Media Contact:
Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509
will.wiquist@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
FCC CHAIRMAN TOM WHEELER ANNOUNCES STAFF CHANGES
--
WASHINGTON, October 13, 2015 - FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler today announced the
appointments of Jessica Almond and Edward Smitty Smith as legal advisors, and the departure
of legal advisors Maria Kirby and Renee Gregory. As of October 26, 2015, Ms. Almond will
serve as legal advisor for media, enforcement, and public safety issues, and Mr. Smith will be
legal advisor for wireless telecommunications, engineering and technology, and consumer issues,
as well as the broadcast incentive auction.
Jessica has done a tremendous job filling in for Renee Gregory, shepherding a large number of
incentive auction-related proceedings. I am delighted that she will be staying on and expanding
her portfolio to media, enforcement, and public safety issues, said Chairman Wheeler. Smitty
was a key member of the Incentive Auction team before he left to run for Attorney General of the
District of Columbia. It is terrific that he is rejoining the Commission and continuing his
incentive auction work as well as taking on a broader range of wireless issues.
Maria Kirby joined the Commission in 2012 as a legal advisor in the Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau and was appointed to Chairman Wheeler's staff upon his arrival.
We will miss Maria greatly, he continued. Maria's superior judgment and insights on media
and consumer issues have made her an invaluable asset. She will no doubt succeed in her next
endeavor as she has at the Commission.
Renee Gregory, who has been on maternity leave since July, is leaving the Commission for a new
position, which will be announced later this year. Ms. Gregory served as wireless legal advisor to
Chairman Wheeler and to Chairman Julius Genachowski, and also was chief of staff in the Office
of Engineering and Technology.
We already miss Renee, said Chairman Wheeler. Renee is the total package - smart,
knowledgeable, astute, and an all-around pleasure to work with.
Prior to rejoining the Commission, Ms. Almond worked as government affairs counsel at HTC
America, Inc. Before that, she served as chief of staff in the FCC's Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, special counsel in the office of Chairman Genachowski, and legal
advisor in the FCC's Media Bureau. She earned her law degree from George Washington
University Law School and her bachelor's from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Prior to his return to the FCC, Mr. Smith served as director of the District of Columbia Office of
Victim Services and Justice Grants. Mr. Smith has also served as senior counsel and chief of
staff for the FCC's Incentive Auction Task Force, special counsel in the FCC's Enforcement
Bureau, special advisor at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and
candidate for District of Columbia Attorney General. He earned his law degree from Harvard
Law School and his bachelor's from Brown University.
###
Office of Media Relations: (202) 418-0500
TTY: (888) 835-5322
Twitter: @FCC
www.fcc.gov/office-media-relations
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order
constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).
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