Jim Horan

Biography

 Jim Horan serves as Director of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Service which responds to requests for records from Veterans, their family, the media and other citizens under the FOIA. The Department of Veterans Affairs receives between 25,000 and 30,000 FOIA requests per year and is mandated to respond to those requests within 20 days. Requests need to be examined to determine whether the records can be released under the FOIA. The FOIA Statute specifies nine reasons (exemptions) which would prevent the records from being released (e.g., personal privacy, classified or proprietary information, attorney/client privileged information among others). VA FOIA Service also maintains the FOIA tracking system and responds to quarterly and annual reports to oversight agencies such as OMB and the Department of Justice. His accomplishments include publication of the revised FOIA regulations in 2011. In addition he is responsible for preparing and publishing VA’s e-Discovery Manual, the BLM’s Data Administration Handbook and Manual and the update to the BLM’s FOIA Manual. Currently the FOIA Service is also preparing Handbooks and Standard Operating Procedures for FOIA Analysts to help them respond to FOIA requests and in entering information into the electronic FOIA system. Mr. Horan has a Master’s degree in Information Systems from American University and a Master’s in History from Catholic University.

Research Interest

 History Department of Justice