James Manning named as Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education

James Manning, of Virginia, was appointed by President Bush today to be Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education at the Department of Education. Manning replaces Sally L. Stroup as the department’s top higher-education official.

Mr. Manning was formerly the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Education, and also served as Acting Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid.

Some biographical information is available from this press release from 2003, when Manning was named Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Additionally, Manning was appointed in 2002 as acting Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Department's Federal Student Aid office. The posting of that announcement from the Dept. of Education reads: "Manning is a veteran of the Reagan and prior Bush administrations, having worked from 1989 to 1993 in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education as chief of staff and deputy assistant secretary. Since June 2001, he has served as the Deputy Secretary's chief of staff, advising him on major budget and policy decisions and day-to-day operations. In between, Manning was chief executive officer of the Congressional Award Foundation."

Manning is also a former Director of International Events for the National Basketball Association.