People news: Empire Center names Warren director of research

ALBANY, N.Y. — The Empire Center for Public Policy — an Albany–based fiscally conservative think tank and government-watchdog group — announced it has appointed Peter Warren as its new director of research.

Warren succeeds E.J. McMahon, the center’s founder, who is now senior fellow.

In addition to overseeing the Empire Center’s research and policy agenda, Warren will be adding his experience to the center’s work in tax, budget, and public-employment issues, among other areas, the center said in a news release.

Warren, a native of the Hudson Valley area, graduated from Binghamton University before starting a career in public policy in Washington, D.C., serving most recently as an associate director at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Empire Center said. At OMB, he was chief advisor to the director and deputy director for management on policy and budget matters affecting the country’s 2-million-member federal civilian workforce.

Warren previously held senior positions on committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. He was senior analyst and oversight director for the Senate Budget Committee, where he advised Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) on education, labor, pension and general government issues. Warren was policy director for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee under Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA), where he helped to enact laws increasing federal-spending transparency, reforming the federal employee-pension system, and improving government management, the Empire Center contended.

“Peter’s unique skill set and vast experience make him the perfect addition to the Empire Center team. We look forward to having Peter on board to help us promote ideas for making New York a better, more affordable place to live and work,” Tim Hoefer, president and CEO of the Empire Center, said.