Brian D. Montgomery

Brian Montgomery
11th United States Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
In office
May 12, 2020 – January 20, 2021
Acting: January 17, 2019 – May 12, 2020
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byPam Patenaude
Succeeded byAdrianne Todman
Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Housing
In office
June 5, 2018 – May 12, 2020
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byCarol Galante
Succeeded byDana T. Wade
In office
February 2005 – July 2009
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Barack Obama
Preceded byJohn Weicher
Succeeded byDavid Stevens
Acting United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
In office
January 20, 2009 – January 26, 2009
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded bySteve Preston
Succeeded byShaun Donovan
White House Cabinet Secretary
In office
January 2003 – February 24, 2005
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byAlbert Hawkins
Succeeded byHeidi Smith
Personal details
Born (1956-08-02) August 2, 1956 (age 68)
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Houston (BA)

Brian Darrell Montgomery (born August 2, 1956) is an American government official who served as the United States Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2020 to 2021. Montgomery previously served as Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner from 2005 to 2009 and from 2018 to 2020. Montgomery is the only individual to serve as FHA Commissioner twice and under three U.S. Presidents (Bush, Obama, and Trump).

He formerly served as Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner during the administration of George W. Bush.[1] He was confirmed to the position in February 2005 and resigned in July 2009.[2] President Donald Trump nominated him to return to his former position as Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Housing,[3] and he was confirmed by the Senate in May 2018.[1] With the departure of Pam Patenaude in January 2019, he also served as the acting United States Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.[4] In October 2019, Montgomery was nominated to become the next Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.[5] He was confirmed to the position on May 12, 2020.[6] Montgomery has co-chaired the National Association of HomeBuilders Mortgage Roundtable since May 2022 and was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2021 by the Five Star Institute. Montgomery achieved the CERT Certificate in Cyber Security Oversight from Carnegie Mellon University—Software Engineering Institute and NACD in April 2023.

Early life and education

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Born in Austin, Texas, Montgomery earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science University of Houston. He is an initiate of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity's University of Texas at Austin chapter.[7] Montgomery grew up in Houston, Texas and attended Westbury High School. He is the grandson of Mexican immigrants on his mother's side of the family.

Career

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From January 2001 until January 2003, Montgomery served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Advance, and from January 2003 to April 2005, he served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary. While serving as Director of Presidential Advance, Montgomery was traveling with President George W. Bush on September 11, 2001 and with him at the Pentagon on September 12 and September 14 when President Bush was at Ground Zero. Montgomery and other White House staff were later awarded “September 11 Presidential Distinguished Service” recognition. While serving in the White House, Montgomery contributed to the policy process on a wide range of issues including the administration's efforts to boost homeownership, increase access to affordable housing, and to reform both the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and the government sponsored enterprises.[2]

Following the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in February 2003, Montgomery headed up a White House working group to monitor all facets of the accident investigation. This ultimately led to the process that developed the President's vision for space exploration. For this effort, Montgomery was awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in June 2004.[2]

Federal Housing commissioner

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One of Montgomery's primary initiatives once he became Federal Housing commissioner in June 2005 was the creation and promotion of a bill designed to modernize the Federal Housing Administration. The Modernization Bill, which passed the House of Representatives in July 2006, is primarily focused on increasing borrower flexibility through both policy and programmatic changes. Included among them are increased loan limits, updated down payment assistance options, and a risk-based premium structure. The goal of the Modernization Bill was to provide low and moderate-income borrowers a safe homeownership option at a fair price.[2]

Another one of Montgomery's priorities while at the Department of Housing and Urban Development was the preservation of affordable multifamily rental housing, achieved primarily through mortgage insurance as well as flexible refinancing options.[2]

Montgomery's photo during the Bush administration

Montgomery's time at the Department of Housing and Urban Development has also been marked by extensive work with Hurricane Katrina disaster victims. He chaired the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Hurricane Recovery and Response Center at Headquarters and helped coordinate and secure temporary and long-term housing for displaced persons.[2]

During Montgomery's tenure as Federal Housing Commissioner, the Department of Housing and Urban Development also launched a campaign meant to educate African-Americans looking to buy their first homes. He was interviewed by National Public Radio on the subject.[8]

Montgomery was the 2008 recipient of the Robert J. Corletta Award for Achievement in Affordable Housing. The Corletta Award, presented annually by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Neighborhood Development Collaborative (NDC), pays tribute to individuals who have shown extraordinary creativity and dedication to the cause of affordable housing.

Montgomery was nominated in 2017 to again serve as Assistant Secretary for Housing - Federal Housing Commissioner and confirmed by the Senate in May 2018. He concurrently served in that role and as Acting HUD Deputy Secretary beginning in January 2019.

Acting Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

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Steve Preston, the fourteenth United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, left office on January 20, 2009, with the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. Montgomery assumed the position of acting secretary until Obama appointee Shaun Donovan was confirmed by the United States Senate[9] on January 22.[10] Donovan was sworn in on January 26.[11]

Deputy Secretary, HUD

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With the departure of Pam Patenaude in January 2019, Montgomery served as the acting United States Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.[4] In October 2019, Montgomery was nominated to become the next Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.[5] He was confirmed to the position on May 12, 2020.[6] As Deputy Secretary, Montgomery oversaw both the FHA and Ginnie Mae while also managing the day-to-day operations of the agency including Disaster Recovery, Field Policy & Management, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, the Office of the Chief Information Officer, and the Office of Administration. Montgomery also advised and assisted the Secretary in leading the Department’s nearly 8,000 employees and $53 billion annual budget. Montgomery oversaw more than $55 billion in Disaster Recovery funding targeted at 17 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Montgomery led the agency’s COVID-19 response which included a myriad of process and policy modifications and extensive coordination with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Housing Finance Agency to assist FHA borrowers impacted by the coronavirus. Montgomery also helped develop solutions for Public Housing Authorities and subsidized housing property owners dealing with impacted tenants as well as state/local governments and tribal nations as they assisted vulnerable constituencies including homeless populations.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Senate confirms Montgomery as FHA commissioner". American Banker. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "HUD – The Honorable Brian D. Montgomery Assistant Secretary For Housing – Federal Housing Commissioner". Archived from the original on September 22, 2007. Retrieved September 27, 2007.
  3. ^ Hall, Phil (September 13, 2017). "Brian D. Montgomery Tapped to Return as FHA Chief". National Mortgae Professional Magazine. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Wise, Justin (December 17, 2018). "Top HUD official under Carson resigns". The Hill. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "PN1155 — Brian D. Montgomery — Department of Housing and Urban Development". U.S. Congress. October 15, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  6. ^ a b "PN1155 – Nomination of Brian D. Montgomery for Department of Housing and Urban Development, 116th Congress (2019–2020)". www.congress.gov. October 15, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  7. ^ "Grand History | Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity".
  8. ^ "Turning African-American Renters into Buyers". NPR.org. Retrieved September 27, 2007.
  9. ^ Staff reporter (January 21, 2009). "Bush Appointees Holding Down the Fort While Obama Nominees Await Confirmation". FOX News. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2009. New York City housing department chief Shaun Donovan's wait for confirmation as Housing and Urban Development secretary puts Federal Housing Commissioner Brian D. Montgomery in charge at HUD. Montgomery joined the agency in 2005 after serving in the White House under the Bush administration. (Archived by WebCite at https://web.archive.org/web/20090511104759/http://www.hhs.gov/about/09transitiondesignees.html
  10. ^ Roth, Bennett & Demirjian, Karoun (January 22, 2009). "Senate Confirms Donovan as HUD Secretary". CQ. Archived from the original on February 6, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  11. ^ Staff (January 29, 2009). "Shaun Donovan Secretary U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development". Department of Housing and Urban Development. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2009. On January 26, 2009, Shaun Donovan was sworn in as the 15th United States Secretary for Housing and Urban Development.
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Political offices
Preceded by White House Cabinet Secretary
2003–2005
Succeeded by
Preceded by
John Weicher
Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Housing
2005–2009
Succeeded by
David Stevens
Preceded by United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Acting

2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Carol Galante
Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Housing
2018–2020
Succeeded by
Dana T. Wade
Preceded by United States Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
2019–2021
Succeeded by