[1][2] As Deputy Secretary, Hansen functioned as Department's chief executive officer, managing 5,000 employees and overseeing an annual budget of $100 billion.

He earned the highest ratings from the Office of Management and Budget for the effective implementation of President Bush's agenda, and was one of the architects of the No Child Left Behind Act.

[1][3] Following his government service, Hansen took a board seat with First Marblehead Corporation, a private student loan provider,[1][4] and he co-founded, with former U. S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige, the Chartwell Group[3] a company which, among other things, created and sold materials to assist schools in complying with the No Child Left Behind Act.

Prior to that time, Hanson did a one year stint as an acting Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs, also with the Education Department.

[3] He has served on numerous boards over the years including the National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education, the Student Loan Finance Corporation, Collegenet and the College Access Foundation.