Larry J. Beat
Washington
Summary
Dynamic leader with extensive experience at the U.S. Department of Commerce, driving regulatory compliance and policy development. Achieved a 2% increase in diversity scores while managing an $8M budget and overseeing EEO investigations. Expert in conflict resolution, fostering an inclusive workplace culture through strategic initiatives and workforce engagement.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, Office of Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington
11.2018 - 03.2025
- Strategically led Civil Rights and EEO initiatives across a 50,000-employee cabinet-level agency, ensuring compliance with federal regulations and fostering an inclusive workplace culture.
- Oversaw policy development, workforce engagement strategies, and operational excellence across key areas, including affirmative employment, alternative dispute resolution, reasonable accommodations, and external Civil Rights programs.
- Managed a $8M annual budget while supervising a team of 25 professionals and five contractors to drive results-oriented impact.
- Developed and executed DEIA policies impacting 48,000 employees, including EEO policy statement and performance elements, Harassment Prevention Policy and Procedures, Reasonable Accommodation Policy and Procedures and Language Access Policy.
- Managed high-volume EEO investigations, overseeing 135 cases annually, scaling to 800 cases during Decennial Census years.
- Modernized complaint and accommodation tracking systems, improving case resolution efficiency and transparency.
- Developed strategies to mitigate the significant increase in the number of requests for reasonable accommodation due to the return to office.
- Optimized the Decennial EEO Complaint Program operational workflows, implementing multi-stage efficiency strategies to prevent backlog escalation and improve EEO complaint case management processes.
- Delivered three high profile workforce studies/root cause analyses that reviewed the promotions and awards system, career advancement policies and programs and identified potential barriers and recommendations for process improvements.
- Designed and implemented a comprehensive annual operational strategy, enhancing team alignment and driving measurable efficiency gains across OCR’s $8M budget.
- Enhanced DEIA engagement, increasing the agency’s Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) diversity scores from 72% to 74% (2022–2024) and improving representation in senior leadership positions.
- Led cultural transformation, spearheading DEIA training initiatives and launching the 2024 Safe & Inclusive Workplace Campaign, attended by 1,800 employees.
- Increased participation of underrepresented EEO groups in senior leadership, supporting strategic DEIA hiring and promotion efforts.
Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity
U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board
Washington
09.2010 - 11.2018
- Led the quasi-judicial agency’s EEO, Conflict Resolution, and Diversity & Inclusion programs, overseeing compliance, policy development, and workforce analysis.
- Provided strategic guidance to senior leadership on EEO initiatives, talent development, and operational improvements.
- Directed affirmative employment efforts, reasonable accommodations, and conflict resolution programs, ensuring alignment with federal regulations and agency objectives.
- Managed annual reporting, interagency collaboration, and budget oversight, driving efficiency and impact.
- Effectively processed dozens of annual EEO Complaints from start to finish and ensured regulatory compliance.
- Oversaw collateral duty EEO Counselors.
- Designed and implemented agency-wide anti-harassment training, enhanced employee awareness and compliance.
- Led the successful revision of MSPB’s Anti-Harassment Policy and Procedures to ensure a safer, more inclusive work environment.
- Developed and executed the annual Unity (Diversity) Day, increasing EEO and workplace inclusion scores above small agency benchmarks.
- Developed and implemented Personal Assistance Services Policy and revised Reasonable Accommodation Procedures in alignment with EEOC Section 501.
- Oversaw modernization of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity’s internal website and collaborated on Section 508 strategy to improve accessibility.
Education
Leadership for a Democratic Society -
Federal Executive Institute
Charlottesville, VA02.2015
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science/Classics (Latin/Ancient Greek)
12.1990
Certificate - Latin American Studies
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA12.1990
Masters Program - Counseling Psychology
Dominican University of California
San Rafael, CASkills
- Regulatory compliance
- Policy development
- Workforce analysis
- EEO investigations
- Budget management
- Conflict resolution
Community Volunteer Activities
- Mentor, EEOC’s EdCon Program, 2023-24
- Mentor, GovLoop, 2015-2018
- Chair, Small Agency EEO, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 2016-2017
- Vice Chair, Small Agency EEO, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 2015
- Secretary, Small Agency EEO, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 2014
- Secretary, Commerce Latino Employee Organization, 1998-2001
- Instructor, Community Ministries of Rockville, 1995-2007
Education And Professional Development
- Leadership for a Democratic Society, Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, VA, 02/01/15
- Counseling Psychology Masters Program, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA, Completed 18 credit hours (one-year full time)
- Bachelor of Arts, Political Science/Classics (Latin/Ancient Greek), 12/01/90
- Certificate in Latin American Studies, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 12/01/90
Career Summary Highlights
- Director of Civil Rights, US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- EEO Officer, Department of the Treasury, Departmental Offices
- Affirmative Employment Program Manager, Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, National Headquarters Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity
- Reasonable Accommodation Team Leader, US Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Management
- Executive Director, Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science
- Equal Employment Manager, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- EEO Complaint Investigator, U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT)
- EEO Specialist, US Department of Commerce, Office of Civil Rights
Timeline
Director, Office of Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Commerce
11.2018 - 03.2025
Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity
U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board
09.2010 - 11.2018
Leadership for a Democratic Society -
Federal Executive Institute
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science/Classics (Latin/Ancient Greek)
Certificate - Latin American Studies
University of Pittsburgh
Masters Program - Counseling Psychology
Dominican University of California
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