Appointments and Resignations
Office of Special Counsel Gains a Leader after 2-Year Gap
After more than two years without a leader, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is getting someone in charge. Carolyn Lerner, nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as special counsel, was confirmed last week by the U.S. Senate.
The OSC ... read more
U.S. Ambassador to Malta, Accused of Ignoring Responsibilities, Resigns: Who is Douglas Kmiec?
Douglas Kmiec has resigned his post as U.S. ambassador to Malta after the State Department’s inspector general criticized him for spending too much time on “outside activities, including writing and speaking engagements that do not pertain direc... read more
Ambassador from Honduras: Who is Jorge Ramón Hernández Alcerro?
For Jorge Ramón Hernández Alcerro, serving as Honduras’ ambassador to the United States seems like old times, having already served in this capacity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His current stint began on May 5, 2010. The year before, he h... read more
Ambassador from Colombia: Who is Gabriel Silva?
Gabriel Silva Luján began his second stint as Colombia’s ambassador to the United States in August 2010. He previously held this post in the mid-1990s.
Silva was born on October 5, 1957, in Barranquilla. One of nine children, he completed hi... read more
Ambassador from Hungary: Who is György Szapáry?
An economist by trade with extensive experience in international finance and banking, György Szapáry took over as Hungary’s ambassador to the United States in January 2011. This marks the first diplomatic post of his career.
The grandson of ... read more
Ambassador from Jordan: Who is Alia Hatoug-Bouran?
An academic turned diplomat, Alia Hatoug-Bouran became Jordan’s first female ambassador prior to assuming her post in the United States on September 14, 2010.
Born in Amman, Bouran earned her Bachelor of Science degree (1979) and Master of S... read more
Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy: Who is Peter Lyons?
A physicist and longtime member of the nation’s premier research laboratory, Peter B. Lyons was nominated to be the Department of Energy’s assistant secretary for nuclear energy in December 2010. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee i... read more
Controversial FDA Press Officer Finally Goes Away
Rather than being a quiet facilitator for the media, the Food and Drug Administration’s press office has been the subject of unflattering news because of its hiring and firing practices and its attempts to control FDA employees’ interactions wit... read more
Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism: Who is Ronald Schlicher?
A member of the Senior Foreign Service, Ronald Lewis Schlicher serves as the Principal Deputy Assistant Coordinator of Counterterrorism in the State Department, a position he assumed on September 2, 2008.
The son of a boilermaker with the Te... read more
Ambassador from South Africa: Who is Ebrahim Rasool?
Prior to becoming South Africa’s ambassador to the United States in July 2010, Ebrahim Rasool was in the thick of his country’s politics. The Muslim leader spent years fighting the apartheid government and eventually rose to become a regional go... read more
Ambassador from Kenya: Who Is Elkanah Odembo?
Elkanah Odembo began serving as Kenya’s Ambassador to the United States in June 2010.
Odembo earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Sociology at Bowdoin College in 1980 and was a member of the soccer team. He went on to add a Master’s d... read more
Federal Election Commission Chair: Who is Cynthia Bauerly?
Nominated by President George W. Bush, Democrat Cynthia L. Bauerly has served on the Federal Election Commission since May 2008. She was elected vice-chair in December 2009, and took over as chair in January 2011. Her term expires April 30, 2011... read more
Ambassador from Thailand: Who is Kittiphong na Ranong?
A career diplomat, Kittiphong na Ranong was appointed ambassador of Thailand to the United States in October 2010 and assumed his post the following December.
Kittiphong is a native of Bangkok, with family roots in the southern province of R... read more
Acting Assistant Administrator of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research: Who Is Craig McLean?
Since April 2010, Craig N. McLean has served as Acting Assistant Administrator of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), which is an arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
McLean grew up on the Pass... read more
Ambassador from Oman: Who is Hunaina Sultan Ahmed Al-Mughairy?
Hunaina Sultan Ahmed Al-Mughairy became ambassador of Oman to the United States on December 2, 2005.
Al-Mughairy obtained a B.A in Business Communications from the High Politechnical Institute, Cairo and a Master’s degree in Economics from t... read more
Ambassador from Uganda: Who is Perezi Kamunanwire?
Perezi K. Kamunanwire has served as Uganda’s ambassador to the United States since May 15, 2006. He previously served as ambassador to Austria, Germany, and the Holy See (1986-1988), and as Uganda’s permanent representative to the United Nations... read more