Interior Assistant Secretary Forrest Gerard has announced that Sidney L. Mills, Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Albuquerque Area, will serve as Acting Deputy Commissioner of Indian Affairs, beginning July 30.
In this capacity Mills will direct the day-to-day operations of the Bureau of Indian Affairs until, the announcement says, "the appointment of a Commissioner takes place."
Mills replaces Martin E. Seneca, who has been the acting BIA head since October, 1978. Seneca has announced his intention to resign from the Bureau as of September 30, 1979. He will return to his former position as Director of Trust Responsibilities July 30.
Gerard said that he asked Mills to assume the duties as Acting Deputy Commissioner prior to Seneca's resignation "in order to effect an orderly transition." He expressed appreciation to both Seneca and Mills "for their extra measure of performance."
Mills, an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, was Executive Assistant to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs prior to his appointment in Albuquerque in March of 1978.
A Navy veteran, Mills, 54, entered Federal service in 1973 in the Aberdeen, South Dakota Area Office. He was the Supply and Contract Officer and, for almost a year, the Acting Deputy Area Director before transferring to Washington, D.C., in August 1975. He had previously been Purchasing Manager for the Great Western Sugar Company; Merchandise Control Manager, Creative Merchandising Inc.; and Purchasing Manager for Sundstrand Aviation, all in Denver, Colorado.
