DHS' Elaine Duke to retire April 1

It’s no April Fool’s Joke — Homeland Security Department’s undersecretary for management, Elaine Duke, will celebrate her last day at the agency April 1.

Duke told the Federal Times that she has plenty of hobbies and interests to explore after devoting much of the past decade to DHS. She has served as undersecretary of management since August 2008 and has worked for the federal government for 28 years, much of it in contracting.

I started with TSA in 2002, and work has really driven my time and energy. I’m looking forward to doing some discretionary things now.”

Duke said she had no comment as to who may take over as acting undersecretary for management.

President Obama nominated Rafael Borras to be undersecretary for management in June, but his nomination stalled after Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, placed a hold late last year on Borras’ nomination.

Borras’ confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee didn’t go well. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and George Voinovich, R-Ohio, both questioned Borras’ selection and experience.

Borras is vice president of construction services for URS Corp.’s Mid-Atlantic region, where he oversees about 100 employees. He is also a former director of the General Services Administration’s Mid-Atlantic regional office.

At an October committee vote on Borras’ nomination, Voinovich said Borras has no experience as a chief financial officer or with managing multibillion-dollar contracts.

We require the undersecretary have extensive executive-level management. I’ve looked at his background, and I don’t believe his experience in the private and public sector are comparable to the challenges he’ll face at the department.”