ALEXANDRIA, Va.-Acting NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar announced June 29 that he intends to appoint Clifford R. Northup to the agency's director of Public and Congressional Affairs. The current director, Bob Loftus, plans to retire by July 27, after 20 years with the agency. Northup will serve as the primary contact between the agency and Congress and the administration. The position has been changed from a career position to a political appointee. NAFCU Senior Vice President and General Counsel Bill Donovan has known Northup professionally for many years and said, "Chairman Dollar made an excellent selection in Cliff Northup." Previously, Northup served as the deputy assistant secretary for legislative affairs at the U.S. Treasury department during former President George Bush's administration. He is currently vice president of the Rhoads Maguire Group, a Washington, D.C.-based government relations firm. Northup has more than 22 years of government relations under his belt, including as a legislative representative for CUNA. He also worked as a legislative assistant for former Senator William Armstrong (R-Colo.), vice president with Charles Walker and Associates, and legislative representative for the American Council of Life Insurance. He earned a B.A. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He also serves as director of the U.S. Treasury Historical Association. [email protected]