Bernard F. Hillenbrand, former NACo executive director, has been appointed as special assistant to U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Henry Cisneros. Hillenbrand, who was known as “Mr. Local Government” during his tenure as NACo executive director from 1957–1982, will spearhead Secretary Cisneros’ County Partnership Initiative.
The County Partnership Initiative is intended to reinforce and highlight HUD’s commitment to counties and to ensure that there is an effective county advocate within the department.
Hillenbrand will focus his attention in three areas: forging stronger links between HUD and urban counties; monitoring implementation of the department’s efforts at “bottom-up” management; and forming non-urban partnerships between states, counties, cities and other shareholders in the housing and economic development arena.
Known as “Bernie” to his friends, Hillenbrand is no stranger to national politics. In his tenure as NACo executive director, he helped develop key national programs, such as welfare reform and housing and community development, and put county government on the national political screen.
After his retirement from NACo in 1982, Hillenbrand embarked on a second career as a pastor, serving in various capacities throughout the greater Washington, D.C. area, with the most recent as pastor of the Cedar Lane Methodist Church in Prince George’s County, Md.