Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham appointed Michael Owen director of the Office of Legacy Management upon its creation in 2003. From 1973 to 1985, Owen served as chief of staff to Congresswoman Marjorie Holt (R-MD). From 1985 to 1994, he served as assistant secretary of the US Army and principal deputy assistant secretary of installations, logistics and environment for the Army. In this latter capacity, Owen had oversight responsibility for numerous programs under the Army Corps of Engineers and was responsible for managing the Army’s base closure and resultant environmental cleanup efforts. He was also responsible for the Army’s conventional and chemical munitions demilitarization programs.

 

From 1994 to 1996, Owen served as vice president of Allied Research, where he was responsible for commercial and government markets in environmental remediation processes and services. He then served as president of Governmental Strategies, Inc., a lobbying firm specializing in environmental issues. Before taking charge of LM, Owen was the director of DOE’s Office of Worker and Community Transition.