Brian O’Leary. The newly appointed head judge for the US immigration courts finds himself in the center of one of the nation’s hot-button issues.

Aleta Margolis. As area students head back to school, the executive director of the Center for Inspired Teaching has ideas about improving education.

General Merdith “Bo” Temple. How prepared is the nation for hurricane season? Ask the Army Corps of Engineers’ head of civil and emergency operations.

Nancy-Ann DeParle. The President’s right hand when it comes to health-insurance reform, she understands what’s at stake in Congress’s health-care showdown.

Bryan Voltaggio. With brother Michael (an LA chef) and Mike Isabella of Zaytinya, Bryan—co-owner of Volt in his Frederick hometown—is part of a trio of Washingtonians on the new Top Chef season.

Charlene Drew Jarvis. What went wrong at DC’s Southeastern University? As it loses accreditation on August 31, the school’s former president knows the full story.

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