Chertoff picks former DOJ associate as chief of staff
As one of his first decisions as secretary of homeland security, Michael Chertoff named John F. Wood as chief of staff. Wood will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of policy, planning and operations as Chertoff’s right-hand man.
Wood, like Chertoff, is an ex-Justice Department official. He served as counselor to former Attorney General John Ashcroft. From 2002 to 2004, Wood served at the White House as deputy general counsel for the Office of Management and Budget. He began working in the administration as deputy associate attorney general and counsel to the associate attorney general in 2001.