From January to April 2006, O'Connor served as an associate deputy attorney general. In 2007, O'Connor served as Chief of Staff to United States Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales.
During the period from January to April 2006, O'Connor occupied the role of deputy chief of the U.S. Department of Justice. Later in 2007, O'Connor took on the position of chief of staff to U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales.