Census Bureau Names Gabriel Sanchez New Regional Director in Dallas

Today the Census Bureau announced that Gabriel (Gabe) Sanchez has been named the new director of the Census Bureau’s Dallas Regional Office, which oversees census operations in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

The former Kansas City Regional Office assistant director will be in charge of more than 50 office staff and about 550 field representatives who interview respondents and complete surveys which measure the economic health and well being of the American people.

The Dallas region includes areas still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Katrina, as well as areas of significant immigration.

“The region has faced many challenges,” Sanchez said. “I look forward to joining the hard-working staff in place and helping to make a difference.”

Sanchez emigrated from Uruguay as an 8-year-old with his mother, who worked as a cleaning lady, and his father, a security guard. He became a U.S. citizen, grew up in New York and graduated from the City University of New York with a history degree.

Sanchez began his Census Bureau career in 1998 by managing a Colorado local census office for Census 2000. Since then, he has worked on planning for field programs at Census Bureau headquarters in Suitland, Md., managed the 2004 Census Test in Queens, N.Y., and led the startup of a Washington, D.C., field office for the Philadelphia Regional Office.

During his time at headquarters, Sanchez was a corporate recruiter and received the Commerce Department Equal Employment Opportunity award for his work with Hispanic employees.

Besides the once-a-decade census, the Census Bureau conducts monthly household surveys through its 12 regional offices. These result in hundreds of reports a year on the nation’s changing population and economy. Census data help governmental officials, community leaders and businesses plan for the future of their communities. All census data are strictly confidential and personal information is protected by law.