Craig Aide Named Senate’s Sergeant At Arms Idaho Man First From State To Hold Position

When Greg Casey attended Idaho Boys State in 1971, he saw a better way.

So at age 18, he rewrote the rule book.

His penchant for organization and love for government never left him. Last week, the U.S. Senate chose Casey, 43, as its sergeant at arms. He is the 32nd person to hold the position, the first from Idaho.

“They still use that plan at Boys State,” Casey said, laughing.

Now, Casey has the authority to arrest the president. Throughout his extensive career as a congressional aide and policy adviser, Casey earned a reputation as a hard-working and fiercely loyal manager.

“Greg has a real passion for administration,” said Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho. Casey, a conservative like his boss, was Craig’s chief of staff before receiving his new job.

As sergeant at arms, Casey is in charge of all Senate support services, from the computer and telephone systems to the barber shop. The office has a budget of more than $90 million and oversees a staff of more than 2,000, including the 1,200 officers of the Capitol Hill Police.

Casey even oversees the Senate daycare center that watches his 3-year old son, Gregory Jr.

“He was so happy to get the job,” said Casey’s wife, Julia, who works for Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Ky. “He’s got a lot of experience in both government and management. He’ll do an excellent job - he’s got more energy than anybody I’ve ever met.”

Casey replaced Howard Greene, who was given the job by then-Senate Majority leader Bob Dole in 1994. The sergeant at arms serves at the pleasure of the Senate leadership.

Casey split time working for Craig and new majority leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., after Dole left the Senate in June. Casey said he worked as many as 14 hours a day for the two senators.

His dedication paid off.

“Greg has been helpful in setting up the administration operation in my office,” Lott said after Casey’s confirmation. “With his background in business and government … he’ll make an excellent sergeant at arms.”

Before going to work for Lott’s office, Casey solicited a promise that he wouldn’t have to give up his job with Craig.

That dedication doesn’t surprise Steve Casey, Greg’s brother and principal of Coeur d’ Alene High School.

“We’re all so proud of him,” Casey said, noting that his brother’s organizational impulses manifested themselves in his early years growing up in Boise.

“He was always setting up a carnival for the kids in the neighborhood and then charging them admission. Then the next thing you know, the kids were running it and he was getting a cut.”

Greg Casey came to Washington with Craig after the latter was elected U.S. Representative in 1980. He worked his way up through the ranks of Craig’s office, then returned to Boise to become president of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry.

In 1990, he rejoined Craig’s staff during his campaign for Senate, and has earned praise from his former boss for his work.

“Greg literally worked his way up through the ranks,” Craig said. “He started out as a case worker, then became legislative director and finally administrator.”

In fact, Craig said, Casey’s reorganization of his Senate office structure served as the model for the freshman legislators who arrived in Washington two years ago.

“We are the office that gets copied,” Craig said.

Casey already has some ideas for the sergeant at arms office. He is planning an audit to scrutinize the office’s use of resources. Some Capitol Hill staffers are considering unionization. Casey said he plans to face these issues directly.

“We can ignore it, or we can evaluate how we can do it,” Casey said. “We have wonderful people in here, who can do great work out of these offices if the leadership can give them some plans. We just have to ask ourselves, ‘Are we doing it right? Can we do it better?”’

Casey’s new position is prestigious - it is the largest department in the Senate. He will escort the president, heads of state and other official guests who visit the Senate. But while Casey said his election to the post was humbling, his job was more important than his title.

“We don’t sit around thinking about who’s top dog,” he said. “You have a responsibility to the leadership, to the senators and to the taxpayers. If we all don’t do our jobs, something’s not going to get done.”

He paused, then chuckled. After all, there are some changes. “They have to call me honorable,” he said. “That’s been fun.”

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: THE POSITION Greg Casey - Sergeant At Arms Age: 43 Salary: $132,100 a year Responsibilities: Oversees all support services for the U.S. Senate, a $90 million budget and more than 2,000 federal employees.