Kathy Jacobs, a University of Arizona professor and former director of the multi-campus Arizona Water Institute has been named the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy's (OSTP) assistant director for climate adaptation and assessment within the office's Energy and Environment Division. She begins her post today.Kathy is being assigned to OSTP by an appointment from NOAA through the Intergovernmental Personnel Act Mobility Program, which allows state and university employees to be temporarily placed in positions within federal government offices.
In December 2008, the National Academies named Kathy chair of its America's Climate Choices Panel on Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change. She will have to step down from the position as she takes on the White House appointment.
[taken in part from the UA news announcement]