Dr. Greg Wagner, formerly the head of NIOSH’s division of respiratory disease surveillance has joined MSHA to serve as the political Deputy Assistant Secretary.  During his time with NIOSH, Greg was a vocal advocate for, among other things, the need to reduce miner’s exposure to both coal mine dust and silica.  Greg was one of the principal authors of NIOSH’s criteria document recommending a halving of the respirable coal dust standard and has written extensively on mine worker respiratory disease.  In his new position, which does not require Senate confirmation, Greg will be the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary and will serve in that role when required due to the absence of the Assistant Secretary.