A San Diego Lawyer Goes to Washington, D.C.

Q&A with Bob Gaglione, former Deputy Director at the U.S. Department of Labor 

This article was originally published in the July/Aug 2021 issue of San Diego Lawyer Magazine.

How did you become a presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Labor? 

I’ve known former Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta for over 20 years and shortly after he was confirmed by the United States Senate, I received an invitation to meet him for dinner in Los Angeles. At the time, Secretary Acosta was putting together his executive management team and he asked if I would like to come to work for the Department of Labor (DOL) in Washington, D.C. Serving the public in our nation’s capital was a lifelong dream of mine, so I said yes. After completing several applications and an FBI background check, I began the lengthy process of winding down my law practice in San Diego. I flew back to Washington, D.C. for an interview with DOL and White House representatives, and another meeting with Secretary Acosta at his office in the Frances Perkins Building. After several additional interviews with Craig Leen, who was the Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), I was offered the position of Deputy Director of this federal civil rights enforcement agency. When I finally resolved all of my cases, I was appointed by the President and drove cross-country to start my new position in July 2019. 

How did you enjoy the experience of living and working in Washington, D.C.? 

Overall, it was a great experience! After three decades in San Diego as a civil trial lawyer, I was warmly welcomed at OFCCP and enjoyed the challenges of the new position. I was pleasantly surprised at the civility and professionalism of my colleagues in the federal government. Unlike what we hear in the news, most people in the federal government get along very well. 

Washington, D.C. is a great city with inspiring architecture, interesting history, and a multitude of arts, cultural, and sports offerings to choose from. Even during the pandemic, there were always a lot of things to do in the DMV (District-Maryland-Virginia). The region has biking and hiking trails, Civil War battlefields, and national and state parks which were open while many other attractions were closed due to COVID-19. 

What was your biggest takeaway from this experience? 

The overwhelming majority of people who work in the federal government are hard-working public servants who get along well with their colleagues. Unfortunately, the media focuses on politicians and special interest groups who don’t get along in Washington, D.C., but in my experience, this is a relatively small percentage of the people in the nation’s capital. 

OFCCP enforces civil rights and equal employment opportunity laws, so there were some projects at the agency where we engaged in spirited debate, but it was always very civil and respectful. 

What was the most unexpected event that you experienced? 

Clearly, the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 was unexpected. By mid-March, OFCCP was the first agency at DOL to go to 100% telework. Former Director Craig Leen and I continued to lead a federal law enforcement agency with over 450 employees in 50 offices around the country through an unprecedented situation while we immediately shifted all business operations to telework. I am very proud of the fact that during this time, the agency had our second-best year in its 55-year history for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020 (following our best year ever the preceding year). As an agency head, I received regular briefings throughout the pandemic and along with DOL leadership, assisted the White House Coronavirus Task Force in putting together its report for the President. 

What were some of your most memorable moments in Washington, D.C.? 

Soon after I arrived in D.C. from San Diego, the Washington Mystics won the WNBA title, followed by the Washington Nationals winning the 2019 World Series. I really enjoyed being present for the celebrations of both championships — especially the parade for the Nationals down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol. 

Professionally, I attended events and meetings at the White House, Senate, House of Representatives, and U.S. Supreme Court. One of my duties as Deputy Director of OFCCP was to deliver speeches around the country in cities including Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, New York, San Diego, and Washington, D.C. During the pandemic, I attended numerous conferences and made speeches by videoconference. 

Finally, it was a fascinating time to be in Washington, D.C. since there were numerous marches and protests in the nation’s capital during the year and a half I lived there. Photography is one of my hobbies and I took many pictures of historic events while I was there. The memories of my time in Washington, D.C. will last a lifetime and it was a great honor and privilege to serve my country at the U.S. Department of Labor.