Claude A. Allen, state secretary of health and human resources, was nominated to be deputy secretary of the federal health agency, and must undergo a Senate confirmation hearing. The legwork on Anderson's potential nomination began in November, when ballot recounting showed President Bush would likely be the White House's next resident. The president's transition team contacted Anderson about submitting an application for a federal government post. Since retiring from the Navy seven years ago, he began and headed up AEI, a three-employee data security company. In 1999, he founded the Hampton Roads Y2K Users Group, which worked to prepare the region for the date change.
Preparations are now under way for a Washington commute.
In the past week, Anderson has moved to a new house in Arlington. As for AEI, it will remain alive in Chesapeake with the help of his employees and partner companies.