Michele Flournoy —The one-time head of the Center for a New American Security is the new top policy person at the Pentagon.

Sam Stein —This Huffington Post Washington writer was the first online journalist to ask a question at a presidential press conference.

Katie Jacobs Stanton —For his new director of citizen participation, President Obama has tapped one of Google’s strategists.

Joshua Dubois —The President’s new twentysomething director of faith-based programs is a Pentacostal pastor from Massachusetts.

Sharon Bulova —The new chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has her work cut out for her as head of the region’s largest jurisdiction.

Michael Steele —Maryland’s former lieutenant governor is the new head of the Republican Party; how will he turn things around?

Mary Schapiro —What does the future hold for Wall Street? The new chair of the SEC has big plans.

Zalmay Khalilzad —The former ambassador and onetime possible Afghan president is now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

This article first appeared in the March 2009 issue of The Washingtonian. For more articles from that issue, click here.

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