IDEA 2004

About the Presenter

Dr. Troy R. Justesen is the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in the U.S. Department of Education. In this position, Troy serves as the principal adviser to the Assistant Secretary of OSERS on all Departmental matters related to special education and rehabilitation services.

In addition to his duties as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Troy is Acting Commissioner of the U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).

Before coming to OSERS, Troy served as the Associate Director for Domestic Policy at the White House, assisting the Offices of Domestic Policy and Public Liaison with the implementation of President George W. Bush’s New Freedom Initiative (NFI) and on matters related to Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and Alaska Natives.

Troy also served as the Deputy Executive Director of the President’s Commission on Excellence in Special Education and worked for three years as an Education Policy Analyst with the U.S. Department of Education in the Office of Special Education Programs.

Previously, he served for nearly four years at the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.

Troy holds a doctorate from Vanderbilt University in education policy, and a Master of Science in special education and a Bachelor of Science in education, both from Utah State University.

Contact Information

Troy R. Justesen
U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 5138
Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202
Telephone: (202) 245-7468
E -mail: troy.justesen@ed.gov