Former U.S. State Department staffer to head records management reform.

• Position: GOVERNMENT RECORDS

A former U.S. State Department official has been tapped as its first transparency coordinator, a newly created position meant to reform the way the department manages its records.

Janice Jacobs, who was assistant secretary for consular affairs, is now in charge of improving document preservation and records systems, according to a statement from Secretary of State John Kerry.

She will work with federal agencies and the private sector to explore best practices and new technologies for preserving records. Kerry said he also wants Jacobs to focus on improving systems that are responsible for responding to Freedom of Information Act and congressional requests to make them faster and more efficient. The department has seen a 300% increase in FOIA requests since 2008 as...