Alphonso D. Jackson is the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve in that position on May 24, 2009, confirmed by the Senate on July 25, 2009, and sworn into office on July 28, 2009
Mr. Jackson previously served as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at HUD from 2006 to 2009, where he coordinated the department's public affairs efforts with the White House, Congress, and other government agencies. During his tenure at HUD, Mr.
Jackson oversaw the approval of over $50 billion in federal housing funds to finance more than 6,000 affordable housing developments nationwide; secured nearly $1 billion in federal funding for the creation of 1 million new HUD-approved homes for low-income Americans; launched a campaign to end homelessness among veterans; and increased HUD's investment in homelessness programs by 50 percent. From 2002 to 2006, Mr. Jackson served as Assistant Director of Public Affairs at HUD where he directed media relations and coordinated communications strategies for the department's major policy initiatives.
In this capacity Mr. Jackson represented HUD at numerous events across the country including press conferences, congressional hearings and meetings with local officials regarding HUD programs and policies. During his time at HUD from 2001 to 2002 he served as a White House liaison to a variety of federal agencies including the U.S.
Secret Service and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Mr. Jackson is a member of numerous professional organizations including Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW), National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), National Press Club (NPC), Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), National Press Foundation (NPF), American Society of News Editors (ASNE) and International Bridge Press Association (IBPA).
He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
In 1965, I marched for equality.Alphonso Jackson
And I always like to stress, it's not a quota, not a set-aside, it's not about race, it's about giving opportunities to demonstrate their abilities to do work with the Federal Government.Alphonso Jackson
The dream doesn't lie in victimization or blame; it lies in hard work, determination and a good education.Alphonso Jackson
