Peggy Huston was selected on July 23 to serve as second-in-command for UC Berkeley's Operational Excellence Program Office and will soon begin to assist in directing the project expected to save the campus more than $75 million.

Huston, former interim director for the campus Technology Program Office, will work alongside Albert Pisano, the office's faculty head selected May 27, to lead the office that oversees the initiative.

Khira Griscavage, special adviser to the vice chancellor of administration, has been serving as interim director of the office since Pisano was appointed. Huston and Griscavage will work together in coming months to "ensure a smooth transition," according to a letter by Pisano announcing Huston's appointment.

"After a competitive search, Peggy was selected for her deep knowledge of the Berkeley campus and her expertise in large-scale project management, making her an ideal choice for this important effort," Pisano said in the letter.

Huston has worked at UC Berkeley for about 10 years and has been mainly involved in campus Information Technology, Information Services and Technology and the Berkeley Financial System.

The Program Office, intended to be a small-staffed "virtual" office, will manage the initiative's seven teams, coordinating all efforts, according to the Operational Excellence website. The teams - procurement, organizational simplification, information technology, energy management, student services, high-performance culture and financial management model - are slowly starting to form and will begin to make decisions within their individual areas once they have assembled members.