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LMI Research Institute Establishes Research Chairs

The Institute to draw on expertise of senior thought leaders

McLean, Virginia, December 12, 2005 – Adm. Donald L. Pilling, CEO of LMI, announced the appointment of the first three chairs of the LMI Research Institute. Ms. Donna Bennett, formerCommissioner of the Federal Supply Service (FSS), will be the Chair for Infrastructure Management, retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Richard L. Kelly will be the Chair for Logistics Management, and retired Marine Corps Gen. Michael J. Williams will be the Chair for Resource Management.

LMI established the Research Institute in 2004 as a center of innovation that seeks to produce breakthrough ideas for advancing the science of government management. It strives to add thoughtfulness, rigor and greater predictability to all aspects of government decision making. Appointees to LMI Research Institute chairs are widely respected former senior government officials who are thought leaders in their areas of expertise. The chairs will provide additional senior government perspective to LMI’s consulting and research efforts. These three individuals will help oversee the Research Institute’s independent research and development program; manage the Research Institute’s outreach to academic centers, other not-for-profit organizations, and the federal government; and preside over our Executive Forums in their respective areas. They will also mentor leaders and managers across operating units and help the LMI staff with program development in their functional areas.

Ms. Bennett joined LMI in December 2005. She was the Commissioner of the General Services Administration’s Federal Supply Service from September 2000 until she retired in July 2005. As FSS Commissioner, she was responsible for directing extensive procurement and global supply operations, managing more than 190,000 vehicles of the worldwide federal fleet, guiding the federal government’s travel and transportation management operations, and overseeing the reutilization and sale of federal excess and surplus personal property. She received Presidential Rank Awards for Meritorious and Distinguished Service and the General Services Administration Administrator’s Awards for Distinguished and Meritorious Service.

Lt. Gen. Kelly joined LMI in November 2005. He was the Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. He is a life member of the Marine Corps Association, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, Military Officers Association of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Penn State Alumni Association. In 2003, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, PA. Kelly does volunteer work each winter at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass, Colo.

Gen. Williams joined LMI as a senior fellow in 2002, after completing a 36-year career in the Marine Corps.At the time of his retirement,he was Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, a post he had held since 2000. In addition to his work at LMI,Williams is a member of the Defense Science Board, the chairman of the Board of Governors of the Marine Corps Association, anda member of the Board of Visitors of the Smeal School of Business at Penn State University.