FERC Chairman Joe Kelliher appointed Andy Black, formerly Deputy Staff Director for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to be Director of the Commission's Office of External Affairs. The Office of External Affairs is the Commission's primary point of contact with the public, Congress, international, federal, state and local government offices, public interest groups and the news media. Black come from the Hill with extensive experience in policy, strategy and legislative operations for all activities of the Energy Committee, chaired by Congressman Joe Barton of Texas. Kelliher has tapped Black to help "further strengthen [FERCs] relationship with Congress and the states."