About the Office of the Director

The OHA Director's Office provides management direction and oversight for the organization as a whole, including supervision and coordination of the various functions assigned to OHA, strategic planning, and training and professional development. Through its administrative staff, the Director's Office also provides support to the organization in the areas of budgeting, personnel, and information services.

In addition, the Director, her staff, and Ad Hoc Boards of Appeals appointed by her, decide various categories of hearings and appeals from bureau and office decisions that do not lie within the jurisdiction of standing OHA unit. These include:

Certain debt collection matters;
Waivers of overpayments to Departmental employees;
Property board of survey determinations of gross negligence;
Government quarters rental rate adjustments;
Uniform Relocation Assistance Act payments;
Acreage limitation determinations under the Reclamation Reform Act; and,
Referred hearings on appeals to the National Indian Gaming Commission.

Personnel

Shayla Freeman Simmons, Director
Janet H. Lin, Deputy Director
Rachel L. Lukens, Counsel to Director
Jessica J. Suotmaa, Executive Assistant/Paralegal Specialist
Emilio M. Nadal, Jr., IT Manager
Jacob L. Sigler, Budget Analyst
Tawanna J. Davis, Administrative Officer
Bernadette Griffin, Management Support Specialist

Contact Information

Office of the Director
Office of Hearings and Appeals
U.S. Department of the Interior
801 N. Quincy Street, Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22203

703-235-3810 (voice)
Email: dir@oha.doi.gov

Resources

OHA Standing Orders

DOI Law Library

Departmental Manual Chapter on Organization of OHA, 112 DM 13

Departmental Manual Chapter on Delegations of Authority to OHA, 212 DM 13

Departmental Manual Chapter on Waiver of Claims for Erroneous Payments, 344 DM 9

Procedural Regulations for Cases before the Office of the Director

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