Office of Employee Appeals Philip A. McNamara Confirmation Resolution of 2026

26th Council Period (2025-2026) Introduced by Phil Mendelson

Philip A. McNamara is being confirmed to the Office of Employee Appeals to fill the remaining term through April 6, 2031.

Referred to Committee on Executive Administration and Labor

Overview

Bill: PR 26-0738, 26th Session, District of Columbia

Title: Office of Employee Appeals Philip A. McNamara Confirmation Resolution of 2026

Purpose: Confirm the appointment of Philip A. McNamara to the Office of Employee Appeals (OEA) to replace Dionna Lewis for the remainder of an unexpired term ending April 6, 2031.

Sponsor: Primary – Chairperson Phil Mendelson (Co-sponsor also Mendelson)

Status: Introduced June 2, 2026; referred to the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor on June 23, 2026.

Main Purpose and Intent

To formally confirm Philip A. McNamara as a member of the Office of Employee Appeals, a DC government agency established under the District’s Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act (GCMPA).

The resolution designates McNamara to fill the unexpired term of Dionna Lewis, effective immediately upon confirmation, ending April 6, 2031.

Key Provisions and Changes

Sec. 2: Confirms Philip A. McNamara as a member of the Office of Employee Appeals, replacing Dionna Lewis, for the remainder of the term ending April 6, 2031.

Sec. 3: Requires the Council to transmit a copy of the resolution to the nominee and to the Mayor upon adoption.

Sec. 4: States that the resolution takes effect immediately.

Who/What Would Be Affected

Philip A. McNamara would assume a seat on the Office of Employee Appeals, an independent body within DC government responsible for reviewing personnel decisions and appeals.

The appointment affects governance and staffing of OEA, including how appeals are adjudicated and how personnel decisions are reviewed within the agency.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Nomination: Mayor Muriel Bowser nominates McNamara (document indicates intent to appoint, with background and qualifications summarized in the nomination letter).

Confirmation Process: Referred to the Council Committee on Executive Administration and Labor for review (as of 2026-06-23).

Term: McNamara would serve the remainder of the unwritten term through April 6, 2031, succeeding the previous appointee.

Effective Date: The resolution is to take effect immediately upon adoption.

Next Steps: Committee consideration, potential committee vote, and full Council vote required for final adoption.

Notable Information

McNamara’s background includes extensive leadership in human capital, labor relations, and public administration, with experience in both federal and local government contexts. The nomination materials emphasize capabilities in workforce strategy, HR operations, policy implementation, and organizational leadership.

The resolution is a formal, non-substantive confirmation instrument consistent with the District’s processes for appointing and confirming members of the Office of Employee Appeals.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to typical OEA confirmation processes or extract direct quotes from the nomination materials.