[ by Howard Haykin ] The SEC announced the appointment of a new Chief Counsel and Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer of SEC's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations.  The candidate most recently had been with Oechsle International Advisors, LLC, serving as General Counsel and COO. Paula Drake will join the SEC on ... 8/6/12.  In her new capacity, Ms. Drake will oversee a staff of 8 lawyers and coordinate the efforts of attorney advisors in the SEC's 11 regional offices. While at Oechsle International Advisors, Ms. Drake was involved in all aspects of the investment management business, including registering investment advisers and establishing risk and compliance programs.  She has extensive experience managing litigation, regulatory relationships, examinations, audits and internal investigations, and recently completed 8 years as a member of the Board of Governors of the Investment Advisers Association. Prior to joining Oechsle, Ms. Drake was an attorney with Ropes & Gray, and at Fidelity Investments - both located in Boston.  She certainly is of Boston, Massachusetts pedigree, having graduated from Harvard Law School and from the University of Massachusetts, where she received her Bachelor of Arts and Ph.D. degrees in English. OCIE conducts the SEC's national exam program for IAs and ICs, BD's, SROs, clearing agencies and transfer agents.  [SEC PR 12-131, 7/9/12]