Professional Services Council names ex-Trump official new CEO

The Professional Services Council, the Arlington County-based trade organization for federal contractors, has tapped a former Trump administration official as its next CEO.

James W. “Jim” Carroll, who served as principal deputy chief of staff in the first Trump administration, will step into the role May 19, succeeding David J. Berteau, who is leaving after leading the organization — which has 400 member companies — for more than nine years, according to a news release distributed Friday.

“Jim Carroll‘s exceptional track record in public service, corporate governance and policy advocacy makes him the ideal leader to guide PSC into its next chapter,” Zachary Parker, chair of PSC’s board, said in a statement.

Most recently, Carroll was a partner at Frost Brown Todd (FBT), an Ohio-headquartered law firm, and was a principal at its subsidiary CivicPoint, a Tennessee-based government affairs firm. From 2018 to 2021, Carroll served as director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. In that role, he spearheaded efforts to tackle the national opioid crisis and oversaw an annual budget of $35 billion across 16 federal agencies.

During President Donald Trump’s first term, Carroll also served as principal deputy chief of staff, deputy White House counsel and general counsel of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

During the George W. Bush administration, Carroll held various roles, including deputy general counsel and acting general counsel for the U.S. Department of Treasury.

During more than a decade working at the Ford Motor Co., Carroll served as the automaker’s Washington counsel and global director of compliance.

“Throughout our comprehensive search process, Jim distinguished himself not only through his impressive credentials but also through his commitment to collaboration and ethical leadership,” Babs Doherty, chair of the search committee for PSC’s CEO, said in a statement.

Berteau is leaving, a PSC spokesperson said, “to pursue other ventures.” His last day is May 19.