Appointments and Resignations
CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation: Who Is Daniel Yohannes?
An Ethiopian immigrant who came to the United States at the age of seventeen with $150 in his pocket, Daniel W. Yohannes worked his way through school, became a wealthy bank executive. and was sworn in as the CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corpor... read more
Surface Transportation Board: Who is Daniel Elliott?
Longtime railroad union attorney Daniel R. Elliott III was the focus of controversy before he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, thanks to his former boss at the United Transportation Union (UTU), the nation’s largest rail union. Elliott was sworn ... read more
Maritime Administration: Who is David Matsuda?
A veteran of Washington, DC, who has served in the Department of Transportation (DOT) and as a Senate aide, David T. Matsuda brings two decades of experience to his new position of leading the Maritime Administration (MARAD).
A native of Apple... read more
Ambassador to Luxembourg: Who is Cynthia Stroum?
The American ambassadorship to Luxembourg has long been reserved as a post for rewarding political friends and benefactors of presidents. In the last 50 years, only three out of 21 U.S. ambassadors to the tiny European country have been career dip... read more
President’s Intelligence Advisory Board: Who is David Boren?
Prior to spending the past 15 years running the University of Oklahoma, Democrat David Boren served in the U.S. Senate, where he had the distinction of being the longest-serving chairman of the Senate’s committee on intelligence matters. This fact... read more
President’s Intelligence Advisory Board: Who is Chuck Hagel?
Appointed co-chair of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, Charles Timothy “Chuck” Hagel is best known as a maverick Republican senator from Nebraska who did not shy away from publicly criticizing President George W. Bush’s handling of the... read more
Office of Vocational and Adult Education: Who is Brenda Dann-Messier?
As the Assistant Secretary of Vocational and Adult Education in the U.S. Department of Education, Brenda Dann-Messier brings an extensive background in the field of adult education to her new job of overseeing community colleges, adult education a... read more
Ambassador to Zimbabwe: Who is Charles Ray?
Charles A. Ray has put in almost five decades of service during his career as both a soldier and diplomat, giving the new U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe an intriguing political and military skill-set to handle American relations with one of Africa’s ... read more
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration: Who Is Cynthia Quarterman?
President Obama has turned to a strong supporter with lengthy experience in pipeline law and regulation to serve as the new Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), which is responsible for protecting th... read more
Acting Director of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations: Who Is Adam Namm
On May 1, 2009, Adam E. Namm took over as acting director of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), a State Department agency responsible for the buildings that house America’s overseas embassies, consulates and missions, including mor... read more
Director of the Bureau of Land Management: Who Is Bob Abbey?
Confirmed on August 6, 2009, President Obama’s Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a twenty-five year veteran of the agency who was put forward for the position by Democratic Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the powerful Senate Majorit... read more
Ambassador to Finland: Who is Bruce Oreck?
Heir to the Oreck vacuum-cleaning fortune, Bruce Oreck was sworn in as U.S. ambassador to Finland August 12, 2009. His experiences have run the gamut from tax attorney to body building to major player in Democratic Party politics. Having contribut... read more
Ambassador to Norway: Who is Barry White?
Barry B. White, sworn in as U.S. ambassador to Norway on October 21, 2009, is another of President Barack Obama’s top fundraisers to receive a diplomatic post. A longtime attorney and business fixture in Boston, White has been involved in Massachu... read more
Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago: Who Is Beatrice Wilkinson Welters?
Like all his recent predecessors, President Barack Obama is appointing old friends and big party donors to diplomatic posts across the globe. The most recent example is his nomination of Beatrice Wilkinson Welters to be the next ambassador to the ... read more
Ambassador to Costa Rica: Who is Anne Slaughter Andrew?
Anne Slaughter Andrew has her husband, Joseph J. Andrew, in part, to thank for her nomination as the next U.S. ambassador to Costa Rica. While the environmental lawyer and lobbyist has made friends in the Democratic Party and contributed to campai... read more
Defense Contract Audit Agency: Who is Patrick Fitzgerald?
In the wake of April Stephenson’s removal in late October 2009 as head of the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), U.S. Army Auditor General Patrick J. Fitzgerald was chosen by President Barack Obama to take over the embattled agency. DCAA indepe... read more