Travis L. Cutler

Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Ethics and Personnel Law

• Provide legal assistance to staff attorneys on a variety of complex technical issues and problems
• Assist staff attorneys in hearing or case preparation to include document production, records management, witness interviews, preparation of exhibits and calendaring
• Use the electronic filing system to perform critical docket functions in a paperless environment, including: 1) inputting legal case information upon receipt of a new case, 2) organizing and disseminating supplemental document workflow received, 3) performing case tracking and monitoring, 4) inputting and disseminating correspondence, orders, and motions from Administrative Judges, opposing counsel, and witnesses, and 5) inputting and organizing supporting or responsive documentary evidence.
• Present recommendations orally and in written memoranda to include factual situation, basis of complaint, legal issues presented and relevant case law relative to personnel matters, Equal Opportunity matters, and employee conduct
• Analyze and evaluate matters arising under the Federal Tort Claims, Act, Ethics in Government Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Rehabilitation Act, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, Americans with Disability Act, and Civil Rights Act
• Assemble exhibits, affidavits, legal documents, and materials for transmittal to courts, third-party adjudicators, other agencies or private parties
• Process Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and conduct Confidential Financial Disclosure Reports
• Conduct pre- and post-employment Conflict of Interest reviews to determine hiring restrictions under the guidance of the General Counsel and ethics department
• Maintain historical files of previous legal cases and inform relevant personnel of disposition of pending and completed actions
• Review and approve Non-Federal Source Travel for agency travelers
• Review periodic financial transaction reports for 278 filers
• Analyze and evaluate Reasonable Accommodation requests

The Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Legislation, Regulation and Energy Efficiency

• Support activities of the DOE-wide Federal Register and rulemaking coordination process
• Review, edit, format, and make revisions to notices of proposed rules, final rules, and all other documents that DOE is preparing to publish in the Federal Register in accordance with the Federal Register Document Drafting Handbook and Incorporation by Reference Handbook
• Assist staff attorneys, Headquarters and Field DOE employees, and contractor staff on a wide variety of technical issues with regard to the DOE-wide public notice process
• Provide assistance and support on the administrative process in the development of rules and Federal Register requirements
• Submit final rule correspondence to the United States Senate, United State House of Representatives, and the United States Government Accountability Office

• Planned, directed, and coordinated purchasing, contracts and grant management services within a law firm environment
• Maintained the agency's property, inventory, and records management systems and corresponding records to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and policies
• Acted as business advisor to the Program Managers within the agency
• Assisted in planning for and acquiring the goods and services needed so that the agency can accomplish its mission
• Notified individuals or offices of decisions, problems, or further actions needed
• Explained or justified decisions, conclusions, findings, or recommendations
• Made improvements, solve problems, or take corrective action when problems were presented
• Negotiated contracts for services or supplies
• Negotiated with individuals or organizations to resolve conflicts, disputes, or grievances
• Acquired and maintained a working knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, policies, standards, or procedures
• Interpreted and applied laws, regulations, policies, standards, or procedures to specific issues
• Monitored contracts (includes administering, extending, modifying, or terminating contracts)
• Participated in the processing and negotiating on a variety of procurements including open market purchases, task order and delivery orders against existing contracts to provide customers with supplies, services, and/or equipment
• Assisted customers in developing requirements documents for specific procurements
• Reviewed Statements of Work to ensure that all technical areas have been addressed and assisted in identifying appropriate contract types
• Conducted price reasonableness determination
• Prepared and issued solicitations or request for quotation documents
• Performed analysis of proposals or quotes received
• Drafted final contract file documentation
• Negotiated the final terms of the purchase order, task order, delivery order, or contract with vendors and /or participated in formal negotiations with potential contractors
• Collaborated with others or work on teams
• Solicit proposals or bids for contracts or property
• Used computer systems or applications to access, create, edit, print, send, retrieve, or manipulate data, files, or other information
• Input and monitored division meeting schedules
• Paralegal Specialist (Detail with the Office of Case Intake and Publication)
• Administered and managed the Federal Labor Relations Authority’s case-docket functions and issuing procedural orders
• Retrieved and docketed all filings submitted to the Authority
• Reviewed incoming documents and determining whether the filings pertain to a new, pending, or previously closed case
• Created, updated, and processed cases using the Authority’s QuickBase system
• Reviewed cases to determine procedural and jurisdictional sufficiency
• Made effective recommendations to the CIP Chief regarding whether cases require deficiency or other procedural orders
• Drafted and issued procedural and jurisdictional orders and other notices pertaining to case filings
• Created and maintained formal and work case files, including making the requisite number of copies

• Conducted interviews to obtain, clarify, and verify information about individual applicants' initial and continuing eligibility for retirement, survivors, disability, insurance benefits, and eligibility for supplemental security income payments
• Examined evidence to evaluate its validity and acceptability in establishing entitlement to benefits
• Developed the required action to insure that all available relevant evidence has been obtained
• Assisted the applicant in securing evidence and prepares special determinations of fact to resolve evidentiary discrepancies
• Conducted interviews, develops, investigates, and resolves post-entitlement actions, including redeterminations, which may involve suspension, resumption, or termination of eligibility or payments
• Conducted case reviews, informal and formal conferences to reconsider initial decisions and post-eligibility decisions affecting an individual's eligibility, continuing eligibility, or amount of payment under the supplemental security income program and makes final decisions on nonmedical issues in reconsiderations
• Determined whether income is wages or self-employment income and whether it is covered income under the Social Security Act
• Provided referral services to individuals needing the services of other programs or organizations
• Performed other duties as assigned and assumes new responsibilities dictated by legislative or policy changes

• Planned and administered $7.5 million budget
• Managed full cycles of projects to meet time and cost directives
• Served as a certified United States Navy purchase cardholder
• Performed with a team of 15 in production activities, supplying equipment and training to members both at domestic and global locations
• Managed a total inventory of $52 million
• Direct supervisor of 10 personnel
• Developed and implemented training program to improve team member’s knowledge for job performance
• Ensured adherence to operational policies and procedures, implementing steps for corrective actions as needed
• Reviewed planned orders, created requisitions for purchased items, and managed approval process
• Transmitted and prioritized approved purchase orders and supporting documents to supplier
• Tracked order acknowledgement, prepared and communicated shortage and backlog reports, and provided visibility of potential interruptions to internal customers
• Tracked orders and confirmed system lead times, delivery dates, and costs
• Reviewed, updated, and maintained purchase orders until they were closed
• Ensured orders to adhere to supplier agreements and contracts
• Lead finance and logistics staff in resolving reception and invoice discrepancies
• Identified opportunities and implemented actions to achieve efficiencies
• Reviewed and verified quantities received against bills of lading, contracts, purchase requests and shipping documents
• Maintained an audit file for each contract to include original contract, all correspondence, changes/deviations, amendments, clarifications, and payment schedules
• Prepared and disseminated information to appropriate employees regarding contract status, facilitated contractor meetings
• Participated in the planning and business management of the full range of grants and renewal applications
• Responsible for monitoring all the phases of award and closing
• Participated in the negotiation of the budget, award period, and terms and conditions for grant awards
• Evaluated budget justifications and financial arrangements, including cost analysis, review of accounting systems, adequacy of resources, acceptability of milestones, and techniques proposed to ensure responsible stewardship of funds
• Tracked the pace of expenditures and prevents lapse of funds or over expenditures and propose resolutions on issues of disputed costs
• Provided expert and authoritative advice, interpretation, and guidance on statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures as they relate to the award program in general and individual applications and proposals
• Input and monitored division meeting schedules
• Conducted and supervised training and development programs for service members, as a collateral duty, in the areas of seamanship, damage control, and logistics
• Helped to promote learning opportunities ship wide to ensure that advancement continued