GRACE A. KILBANE
Administrator
Office of Workforce Investment
Employment and Training Administration
U.S. Department of Labor

Grace A. Kilbane currently serves as the Administrator for the Office of Workforce Investment.  Grace has served in many key executive positions in the Employment and Training Administration (ETA).  Most recently, she served as the Regional Administrator for Region I, where she was responsible for overseeing federal investments made in employment and training programs in 10 states.  At the national level, Grace has served as Administrator of most of ETA’s programs, including: the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) training programs for adults, youth, and dislocated workers; Job Corps; the unemployment insurance program; the employment service;  the trade act; One-Stop System; labor market information; electronic tools; and foreign labor programs.  

A few highlights of her many accomplishments include: serving on the Recovery Team to implement the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in ETA; commencing a major national TAT initiative, “Reemployment Works” during the recent recession; leading the implementation of the One-Stop Career Center system as its first National Director; leading the development of a new Youth vision; commencing the process of connecting vocational training in Job Corps to industry-required credentials for youth; enabling the innovation for states to take unemployment claims over the internet; implementing temporary extended unemployment compensation and the $8 billion Reed Act distribution to states in response to 9/11; and, leading the rulemaking and implementation of new temporary worker programs, including the H-1B visa for high-skilled workers.

Grace began her career with the Department in 1988 as the Regional Administrator for ETA in Kansas City.  Prior to joining ETA, she served as Deputy Administrator and Acting Administrator of the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services for almost six years.  She also has more than eight years experience directing programs at the city and county levels of government. 

A native of Cleveland, she earned a Law Degree from Cleveland State University in 1982; a Master of Science Degree in Urban Studies from Cleveland State University in 1977; and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Kent State University in 1974.