DECISION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
William H. Gage, an African American, (“appellant”), appeals only from that portion of the Hearing Officer’s Decision and Order, dated April 25, 2001, concluding that the Office of the Architect of the Capitol (“appellee”) did not racially discriminate against him with respect to his application for the position of Assistant Superintendent of the Capitol Building, GS-1601-13/14, (“Capitol Position”).1 For the reasons set forth below, the Board affirms the Hearing Officer’s Decision.
I.
The appellant entered the appellee’s employ in June 1997. In February 1998, he was promoted to the position of Supervisory Service Compliance Specialist (GS-1601-12) in the House Office Buildings, a position he still occupies. [H. O. Decision, Finding No. 2].2 During the latter part of 1999, the appellant applied for four promotional opportunities through the appellee’s Human Resources Management Division. The Division’s Acting Chief, Ms. Medlin (Caucasian), determined that the appellant was not minimally qualified 3 for one position at the Supreme Court and the two positions in the House office buildings. The selectees for those positions were one African American and two Caucasian individuals. [H.O. Decision, Finding No. 8]. Those selections are not in issue in this appeal. See, footnote 2, supra.
Appellant’s application for the Assistant Superintendent of the Capitol Building vacancy (“Capitol Position”), which is the subject of this appeal, was processed entirely by Ms. Scriber, an African American and a subordinate of Ms. Medlin. In reviewing the appellant’s application package, Ms. Scriber concluded that neither the appellant’s prior military experience nor his experience with the appellee satisfied the required one-year specialized GS-12 level experience for the Capitol Position. In seeking to favor the appellant (Ms. Scriber and the appellant formerly were residential neighbors), Ms. Scriber sought the judgment of her colleague, Mr. Cortez. However, Mr. Cortez also believed that the appellant was not minimally qualified. Before finding the appellant not minimally qualified Ms. Scriber did not discuss the matter with her supervisor, Ms. Medlin. Ms. Scriber did find as minimally qualified Mr. Donald Keith White (Caucasian), who was ultimately selected for the Capitol Position. [H.O. Decision, Findings 10-15]. 4
