Statement by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on the President’s Intention To Nominate Gus P. Coldebella as General Counsel

Release Date: October 5, 2007

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

President Bush has announced his intention to nominate Gus P. Coldebella as General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security. Gus is an exceptional attorney and trusted advisor for me and the entire senior leadership team on the most complex and pressing issues that we face.

I have worked daily with Gus since he joined the department in 2005 as Deputy General Counsel. In February 2007, Gus became Acting General Counsel, and since then has provided steady and effective leadership of the Office of the General Counsel, managing the nearly 1,700 attorneys throughout the department. Prior to his federal service, Gus was a Partner in the litigation department of Goodwin Procter LLP in Boston, where he specialized in trial and appellate work, handling complex business, transactional and regulatory cases. Gus graduated magna cum laude from Cornell Law School and holds a degree in Philosophy from Colgate University.

I am grateful for Gus’ service to the American public and congratulate him on this recognition of his work. I look forward to Gus’ quick confirmation by the Senate and to his continued contributions to the security of our homeland.

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This page was last modified on October 5, 2007