Appointments and Resignations
Acting Director of Defense Media Activity: Who Is Bryan Whitman?
Upon the retirement of Melvin W. Russell, who served as acting director of the Defense Media Activity (DMA) from October 2009 until April 30, 2012, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Bryan G. Whitman was appointed a... read more
Ambassador from Spain: Who Is Ramón Gil-Casares?
The new ambassador to the United States from Spain is a career diplomat who has previously served in the U.S. and whose career has been tied to the political fortunes of Spain’s right-of-center political party, the People’s Party (PP), which won S... read more
Ambassador from South Korea: Who Is Choi Young-jin?
The key U.S. Asian ally of South Korea has named a new ambassador to the United States who has served before in the U.S. Born March 29, 1948, Choi Young-jin earned a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations at Yonsei University in Seo... read more
Director of the American Institute in Taiwan: Who Is Christopher Marut?
A career diplomat who has specialized in Asian affairs, including U.S.-Taiwan relations, will be the next director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), and as such the de facto ambassador to Taipei. Christopher J. Marut, who served previousl... read more
Ambassador from Thailand: Who is Chaiyong Satjipanon?
Chaiyong Satjipanon became Thailand’s ambassador to the United States on April 18, 2012.
Born on September 14, 1953, Chaiyong was educated in Thailand and the U.S. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree (with honors) in political science and ... read more
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Resigns: Who Is Gregory Jaczko?
To the relief of some agency staff, the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has decided to resign before another investigative report comes out echoing previous complaints about his management style.
Among other problems, Chair... read more
Senate Brings Federal Reserve Board to Full Size for First Time in 6 Years
For the first time since 2006—before the financial crisis struck—the seven-member Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors will be at full strength now that the Senate approved two of President Barack Obama’s appointments.
Joining the Fed’s board ... read more
Ambassador from Chile: Who Is Felipe Bulnes?
A lawyer, academic, and politician, Felipe Bulnes became Chile’s ambassador to the United States in May 2012.
Bulnes was born in Santiago on May 27, 1969, to lawyer Francisco Bulnes Ripamonti and journalist Maria Teresa Serrano. The ambassador... read more
Ambassador from Croatia: Who Is Josip Paro?
Career diplomat Josip Paro began his appointment as Croatia’s ambassador to the United States in 2012, presenting his credentials to President Barack Obama on May 2.
Paro holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and comparative literature from ... read more
Ambassador to Azerbaijan: Who Is Richard Morningstar?
Energy-rich Azerbaijan, strategically located south of Russia and north of Iran, has become accustomed to being wooed by both Russia and the United States, especially when it comes to energy development. With relations hampered by the lack of a fu... read more
Ambassador from Haiti: Who Is Paul Altidor?
An economist and international development specialist, Paul G. Altidor was named as Haiti’s ambassador to the United States in January 2012 and presented his credentials to President Barack Obama on May 2.
Altidor, 39, was born in the port cit... read more
Ambassador to Pakistan Resigns: Who Is Cameron Munter?
On May 7, U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter announced to his embassy staff in Pakistan that he’d be quitting in the summer after serving less than two years on the job. Tensions have been rising between the United States and Pakistan recently, but an... read more
Acting Director of Defense Media Activity Retires: Who Is Melvin Russell?
Melvin W. Russell, who created a stir in military circles in January when he proposed moving the Pentagon-funded but editorially independent newspaper Stars and Stripes from downtown Washington, DC, to rural Fort Meade, Virginia, served as acting ... read more
Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery: Who Is Patrick Hallinan?
A Vietnam Era veteran who started his cemetery career as a day laborer has risen to be the number one man at Arlington National Cemetery, the crown jewel of the national cemeteries, which conducts about 27 funerals per day. Patrick K. Hallinan was... read more
Acting Administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration: Who Is Greg Winfree?
The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), which manages the Transportation Department’s research and development programs with the goal of creating technologies that can be used to improve transportation, has an acting administ... read more
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration: Who Is Michael Huerta?
In the middle of one of its largest ever projects–the rollout of a new air traffic control system, dubbed “NextGen”–the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lost Administrator Randy Babbitt, who resigned on December 6, 2011, days after he was arr... read more