David F. Garrison, an expert on urban policy who has served as vice president of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), has joined the Brookings Institution as deputy director of the Greater Washington Research Program, a component of the Center for Urban and Metropolitan Policy.
“Dave’s long involvement in urban policy issues, focused particularly on regionalism, and his broad knowledge of federalism and intergovernmental process will greatly enhance the work we do here,” said Alice M. Rivlin, senior fellow and director of the Greater Washington Research Program. “He is a great addition to our team.”
Prior to joining NAPA, Garrison was a member of the senior staff in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during the Clinton administration. Between 1993 and 2001, he held four positions: counselor to the deputy secretary; acting director, Office for Civil Rights; principal deputy assistant secretary for Planning and Evaluation; and deputy director, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
From 1977 to early 1981, Garrison served as deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Policy Development and Research at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. During his last two years there, he oversaw the development of the department’s annual budget submission to the president. He returned to Washington in 1993 after a dozen years in Cleveland, Ohio, where he directed the Urban Center, the research and outreach unit of the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University.
In 1998, Garrison was selected as a NAPA Fellow. The organization’s fellows, some 550 in number, are distinguished practitioners and academics in the field of public administration who are elected by their peers.
Garrison earned his B.A. from Amherst College in 1965 and his J.D. (1968) and L.L.M. (1970) from George Washington University.