ALEXANDRIA, Va. – J. Owen Cole, Jr., NCUA's director of the Office of Strategic Program Support and Planning, has been named the agency's new deputy executive director as of Dec. 1. "Owen will bring a wealth of experience to his new position," NCUA Chairman JoAnn Johnson stated. "The NCUA has greatly benefited from his extensive investment and strategic management experience. I am pleased to welcome Owen as Deputy Executive Director." "Owen Cole is the consummate professional. In each of the positions he has held, he has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills, intelligence and dedication," said Board Member Debbie Matz. "Mike McKenna and Mark Treichel have set a very high bar for deputy executive directors, and I am confident that Owen will raise the bar even higher." He also currently serves as the president of the Central Liquidity Facility. From June 2002 through June 2003, Cole had served as NCUA's Region II associate regional director of operations, after having first served as the director of the division of risk management for four years. Prior to that, he was a senior investment officer from 1993-1998. Cole came to NCUA from the banking industry, where he spent 10 years as an investment trader and portfolio manager. He holds a bachelor's degree in history from McDaniel College and a master's in business, with a concentration in finance and investments, from George Washington University. Cole replaces Mike McKenna who is moving over to deputy general counsel effective Dec. 1.