Appointments and Resignations
Scientists Call for Firing of Head of Fracking Review Panel
Since his days as head of the CIA, John Deutch has earned more than $1 million serving on the boards of energy companies. The problem with this, say environmentalists and scientists, is that Deutch has been chairing Energy Secretary Stephen Chu’s ... read more
Ambassador to The Netherlands Resigns: Who is Fay Hartog Levin?
The U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands, Fay Hartog Levin, announced on August 8 that she is resigning her post effective September and returning to Chicago.
One of many Chicagoans tapped by President Barack Obama to join his administration, ... read more
Ambassador to Moldova: Who is William Moser?
A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, William H. Moser was selected by President Barack Obama to be the United States’ next ambassador to Moldova on May 5, 2011, and he was confirmed by the Senate on August 2.
Born and raised in Nor... read more
Ambassador to Afghanistan: Who is Ryan Crocker?
A retired diplomat experienced in handling tough overseas assignments, Ryan Crocker has returned to Afghanistan, where he helped reopen the U.S. embassy following the U.S. invasion in 2001. He was sworn in on July 25, 2011. This is the sixth Isl... read more
Ambassador from Niger: Who is Aminata Maiga Djibrilla Touré?
Career diplomat Aminata Djibrilla Maiga Touré became Niger’s ambassador to the United States in March 2006. When a military junta staged a coup in February 2010, Touré was named foreign minister. However, she is still officially her nation’s amb... read more
Ambassador to Malawi: Who is Jeanine Jackson?
A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, with prior experience serving in Africa, Jeanine E. Jackson was confirmed as ambassador to Malawi on June 30, 2011.
Jackson is a native of Sheridan, Wyoming, who earned a bachelor’s degree in ar... read more
Ambassador to Luxembourg: Who is Robert Mandell?
On June 28, President Barack Obama announced his intention to replace one top donor with another in making his latest pick for ambassador to Luxembourg: Florida real estate developer Robert A. Mandell.
Obama first went with Cynthia Stroum, a... read more
Ambassador-Designate to Russia: Who is Michael McFaul?
A Stanford University professor with no prior diplomatic experience but a great deal of experience studying Russia, Michael Anthony McFaul was nominated to be U.S. ambassador to Russia by President Barack Obama in May 2011. However, the Senate h... read more
Ambassador from Greece: Who is Vassilis Kaskarelis?
A career diplomat with more than 35 years’ experience, Vassilis Kaskarelis has served as Greece’s ambassador to the United States since June 2009.
Born in Athens on November 26, 1948, Kaskarelis holds an economics and political science degre... read more
Labor Official Resigns Following Corruption Investigation: Who is Raymond Jefferson?
Once considered a rising star in veterans’ circles, Ray Jefferson has resigned his post as assistant secretary in the Department of Labor following an internal investigation that found he had improperly steered federal contracts to friends and f... read more
Ambassador from Lithuania: Who is Žygimantas Pavilionis?
Žygimantas Pavilionis is a career diplomat who became ambassador of Lithuania to the United States in August 2010.
Born on August 22, 1971, in Vilnius, Pavilionis grew up with parents who prized higher education; his father, Roland Pavilioni... read more
Ambassador from Fiji: Who is Winston Thompson?
A longtime cabinet minister and diplomat, Winston Thompson came out of retirement in April 2009 to serve as Fiji’s ambassador to the United States. His appointment was announced one week before Fijian President Ratu Josefa Iloilo suspended his n... read more
Navy Set to Break Record for Firing Commanders
The U.S. Navy set a record last year by firing 17 officers, and it is on pace to eclipse that mark in 2011.
So far this year naval leaders have discharged 15 commanders, with three of them coming in the same week this month.
Some observe... read more
Ambassador from Brunei: Who is Yusoff Hamid?
After serving as an ambassador and handling other foreign affairs roles since the 1980s, Dato Paduka Haji Yusoff bin Haji Abd Hamid became ambassador of Brunei to the United States in November 2009.
Born on March 1, 1949, in Kuala Belait, Ha... read more
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: Who is Martin Gruenberg?
A six-year board member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Martin J. Gruenberg was nominated to be chairman of the FDIC by President Barack Obama in June 2011. He will function as acting chairman until his confirmation hearing in the ... read more
Secretary of Commerce: Who is John Bryson?
A retired utilities executive, John E. Bryson was considered a low-profile choice as President Barack Obama’s next secretary of commerce. But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t room for controversy when Obama named Bryson in May.
For starters, Bry... read more