Business graduate plays a big role in the presidential transition

James A. Williams (B.S.'79/B) officially named Barack Obama the winner of the 2008 presidential election.

At 20 minutes past midnight Nov. 5, 2008, James A. Williams (B.S. '79/B), acting administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration, made a very important decision: He named Barack Obama the winner of the 2008 general election.

According to the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, one of the GSA's responsibilities includes providing support for the incoming president and his team, as well as logistical support for all people involved in the inauguration. As acting administrator, Williams had to ascertain the apparent winner as soon as possible with the inauguration just 77 days away.

So, early in the morning of Nov. 5, after the major networks had called the election, Williams sent a letter to Obama congratulating him on being the apparent winner.

"I called his transition leader and said, The keys are yours,' " Williams says. "They were there early the next morning. It was very exciting."

Needed: strong organizational skills

Setting up the future president and his staff requires the utmost organization and the full attention of many of Williams' 12,000 staff members. The GSA provides office space, telecommunications, computers, BlackBerrys, vehicles and financial and human resource services. So far, the transition has gone smoothly and has earned high praise.

"We've heard good things from our customer, but we don't rest on our laurels," Williams says. "We've got to do it every single day."

Williams, who previously served as commissioner of acquisition service within the GSA, was appointed to his present post in August 2008 by President George W. Bush. Aside from being responsible for presidential transitions, the GSA also maintains about 8,600 federal buildings and owns 1,500 of those. Another arm of the administration serves as a central buying agency, each year purchasing all the cars for the government — about 65,000 vehicles — and operating another 213,000 nontactical vehicles. The GSA also operates a major telecommunications network and supplies ships going overseas as well as firefighters putting out wildfires across the country.

Love of business started at VCU

Working in a part of government that operates as a business greatly appeals to Williams, who is now in his 30th year of federal service. He credits his "great educational experience and great professors" at Virginia Commonwealth University for fueling his interest in business. "That spurred me along to get an M.B.A."

Once the transition is complete and Obama takes office Jan. 20, Williams might be asked to remain in his position or a new administrator could be selected. If that's the case, he'll return to his former job within the GSA.

No matter how it turns out, Williams says he feels humbled by his experience as administrator.

"I've had the great honor of being the leader of this organization," he says.

Williams hopes that more young people consider the same professional path he chose. He's passionate about his experience and wants others to know the excitement a career in government service offers.

"It's something I believe in," he says. "And it's so important to the country right now to keep our best and brightest coming in."