Reffett & Associates Selected to Assist in Search for Architect of the Capitol for the U.S. Congress
June 19, 2024 – The U.S. Senate Rules Committee, along with the U.S. House Committee on Administration, has selected Seattle, WA-based Reffett & Associates to assist with their search for the next Architect of the Capitol (AOC). Reffett & Associates was selected to work with the U.S. Congress based on their history of successful civilian senior level recruitments across all branches of the federal government and their proven success sourcing talent nationwide for clients in the private sector. The assignment will be led by Marshall Reffett, managing director in Seattle, and Washington D.C., along with assistance from the entire Reffett & Associates staff.
The Architect of the Capitol serves as the steward of the landmark buildings and grounds of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The first Architect of the Capitol was appointed in 1793 by President George Washington and made a permanent office under the legislative branch in 1876. To date, there have been 12 Architects.
The Architect is responsible to the United States Congress for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol complex (Capitol complex), which includes the Capitol, the congressional office buildings, the Library of Congress buildings and grounds, the Supreme Court building and grounds, the U.S Botanic Garden, the Capitol Power Plant, Capitol Grounds and Arboretum, and other facilities. The Architect oversees approximately 18.5 million square feet of space across 36 structures. The agency is comprised of approximately 2,400 employees and has a more than $1,000,000,000 annual budget.
Reffett & Associates is a nationally recognized executive search firm. The boutique talent provider has extensive experience in retail and consumer packaged goods, private equity, commercial and federal services, government sectors, and associations and non-profits. Its team is made up of executives with tangible industry experience, possessing real world, relatable knowledge about the challenges executives face in managing talent in a competitive marketplace.
Related: Reffett Associates Retained by New Mexico Military Institute to Find New President
Mr. Reffett has spent the last 15 years recruiting talent for the federal government and numerous private companies nationwide. He joined the search firm after having worked for former U.S. Rep. David G. Reichert of Washington State. Mr. Reffett has conducted private sector searches for the Seattle Mariners, Bartell Drugs, and Metropolitan Market, in addition to his other federal work for the Department of Transportation, the Department of Commerce, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Air Force Research Laboratory.
Searches for the Federal Government
Reffett Associates has been enlisted to help fill a series of key senior executive roles in technical and hard-to-fill positions for the federal government. Since 2022, Reffett has assisted the U.S. Army Material Command at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL with recruitments for three highly qualified expert (HQE) positions.
Reffett Associates Recruits President for the United States Army Historical Foundation
After a nationwide search, Seattle, WA-based Reffett Associates has assisted in the recruitment of U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Burt Thompson as the new president of the United States Army Historical Foundation (AHF) in Washington, D.C. Managing director Eric Reffett led the assignment. He succeeds Roger Schultz, who has led the foundation since 2015. Eric Shinseki, chairman of the board of the AHF, praised Mr. Thompson as the right person to lead the AHF and the Museum of the United States Army into the future. Mr. Thompson joins the AHF after a career in industry and the military. Most recently, he served as chief operating officer at Data Machines Corporation in Ashburn, VA, which specializes in cloud architectures, data analytics, DevSecOps, machine intelligence, and data science.
To be considered an HQE, individuals must possess “uncommon and recognized knowledge, skills, and experience in a field of expertise, and judgment that is accorded authority and status by peers or the public,” said the firm. HQEs are considered on par with senior executive service (SES) positions. HQE roles inside of the armed forces carry the status of a lieutenant general.
Reffett Associates also recently filled the position of provost for the Naval War College. This placement, said the firm, is the latest in a string of academic recruitment for the nation’s military institutions of higher learning including:
- Chief learning officer of the Air Force for Air Education and Training Command.
- Dean of the Aerospace School of Medicine.
- President for the Naval Postgraduate School.
- Provost for the Naval Postgraduate School.
Related: Reffett Associates Recruits First Woman Superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
