WASHINGTON-Julie L. Williams has been named acting comptroller following the retirement of John D. Hawke, Jr. as of Oct. 13. The move was automatic under the National Bank Act. Williams has served as first senior deputy comptroller since 1999 and also chief counsel since 1994. She previously served as acting comptroller from April to December 1998. "My total commitment will be to support the interests of our agency and our workforce, to maintain and strengthen the safety and soundness of the national banking system, and to protect the interests of the customers national banks serve," Williams said. Previously, she held the position of senior deputy chief counsel at the Office of Thrift Supervision, and served since 1983 at that agency and its predecessor, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. She worked on securities and banking law issues at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Kampelman in Washington from 1975 to 1983. She is a graduate of Goddard College, Vermont, and graduated first in her class at Antioch School of Law, Washington, D.C. Williams has named Deputy Chief Counsel Daniel P. Stipano acting chief counsel.