ALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA Director of External Affairs Nicholas Owens has announced that he will be leaving the agency this month. After he departs March 24, he plans to continue public service but would not disclose specifics at this time. "Nick has been a close, trusted advisor and has provided wise counsel to the entire NCUA Board. Although he plans to depart the NCUA, I am pleased that he is continuing in public service," said NCUA Chairman JoAnn Johnson. "He has played an integral role in advancing NCUA's regulatory agenda and the success of the Access Across America initiative. We have valued Nick's leadership, hard work, and wish him continued success." Owens joined the NCUA in 2001, as former NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar's special assistant for public affairs. In 2004, Johnson elevated him to special assistant and director of external affairs. Owens served as a senior communications advisor to the board on policy matters, as well as coordinated the agency's Access Across America economic empowerment initiatives. "The opportunity to serve in the President's Administration and become involved with America's credit unions has been an extraordinary and rewarding experience," Owens said. "I attribute the success at NCUA to not only serving a superb NCUA Board, but to a good working relationship with the bright and talented agency staff who demonstrated to me early on the positive and gratifying aspects of public service in the federal government." A successor has not been announced.