Szabat is SBA administrator's new chief of staff

Small Business Administration administrator Steven Preston named Joel Szabat as the agency's new chief of staff.

Szabat, who has worked at the Transportation Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, started in his position earlier this week.

In his new role, Szabat will serve as a primary adviser to Preston and help the administrator carry out his initiatives.

"Joel brings strong hands-on management experience to our team, which will be critical in partnering with me to address many of the operational opportunities and challenges we face at the SBA," Preston said in a statement.

Steve Galvan, who was serving as chief of staff, will continue serving as chief operating officer, an agency spokeswoman said.

Rob Thormeyer is a staff writer for Washington Technology's sister publication, Government Computer News.