WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 /EMWNews/ -- Attorney General Michael

B. Mukasey announced today that he will appoint Brian A. Benczkowski to

serve as his Chief of Staff, effective August 15, 2008. Benczkowski, 38,

currently serves as chief of staff to Deputy Attorney General Mark Filip.



    Benczkowski will succeed Brett Gerry, who will be leaving the

Department after more than four years in the Executive Branch, and who has

served as the Attorney General's chief of staff since his confirmation.

Gerry's previous service included tenures as the Acting Assistant Attorney

General for Legal Policy and as the National Security Division's first

Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Law and Policy. He will be leaving

for a position in the private sector.



    "When I asked Brett if he would serve as my chief of staff last fall, I

was aware that he might not be able to remain in that position until the

end of my tenure," said Attorney General Mukasey. "I am very grateful for

Brett's exemplary service to the Department and to the nation, and for his

wise counsel during his time as my chief of staff. He is an outstanding

lawyer and a fine manager, and I wish him and his family the best as he

starts this new chapter in his career."



    Benczkowski has served in various positions in the Department of

Justice since 2002, including as staff director and senior counsel in the

Office of Legal Policy, chief of staff at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,

Firearms and Explosives, and as the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney

General in the Office of Legislative Affairs.



    "I am happy that Brian Benczkowski has agreed to serve as my chief of

staff," Attorney General Mukasey said. "Brian has been one of my closest

advisers in the Department since my confirmation process, and his

exceptional judgment and extensive experience in the Department will be of

great value to me and to the Department in the upcoming months."



    Benczkowski is a 1991 graduate of the University of Virginia, and

received his J.D. in 1994 from the Washington University School of Law.