Brent R Orrell

Brent R. Orrell served as the first Director of the U.S. Department of Labor's Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives from 2001 to 2005. From 2005 to 2008, he was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and External Relations at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families and also led that agency's Office of Refugee Resettlement. He returned to the U.S. Department of Labor in February, 2008 to head the Employment and Training Administration (ETA). Orrell served as Deputy Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives during 2007. Before joining the Administration in 2001, the Oregon native worked in the United States Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives for 14 years. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in history. He and his family reside in Northern Virginia.