Appointments and Resignations
Solicitor General: Who is Don Verrilli Jr.?
Donald B. Verrilli Jr.’s selection to succeed Elena Kagan as solicitor general was considered a surprise by some Washington insiders who believed the job would go to Neal Katyal, the acting solicitor general. The White House announced Verrilli’s... read more
Ambassador to Tajikistan: Who Is Kenneth Gross, Jr.?
The ambassador to Tajikistan, which is the poorest country of all the former Soviet republics, is Kenneth E. Gross, Jr., who is familiar with Tajikistan from his earlier tour there as the Deputy Chief of Mission from 2002 to 2004. He was nominated... read more
Was Cynthia Stroum America’s Worst Ambassador?
You know there’s something seriously wrong at an American embassy when staffers ask to be transferred to a war zone, instead of staying put in a cushy European post.
At the U.S. embassy in Luxembourg, life under Ambassador Cynthia Stroum was... read more
Ambassador to Slovenia: Who is Joseph Mussomeli?
Joseph A. Mussomeli, a diplomat with three decades of experience, took over as U.S. ambassador to Slovenia in October 2010. He previously served as ambassador to Cambodia.
Born in New York City on May 26, 1952, Mussomeli hails from a Sicilia... read more
Ambassador to Mauritania: Who Is Jo Ellen Powell?
Nominated on July 15, 2010, to be the U.S. ambassador desert country of Mauritania and confirmed on October 10, 2010, Jo Ellen Powell, a career member of the Foreign Service, grew up in a Foreign Service family, living in Panama, Saudi Arabia, L... read more
Ambassador to China Resigns to Pursue Presidential Bid: Who is Jon Huntsman?
Jon M. Huntsman Jr., the U.S. ambassador to China, submitted his resignation on January 31 in order to clear the way for a presidential bid against the man who appointed him, Barack Obama.
Huntsman never fit the typical profile of a U.S. ambas... read more
President of Legal Services Corporation: Who is James Sandman?
James J. Sandman, a specialist in pro bono legal work, spent three decades with an international law firm and then became the top legal official for the District of Columbia’s school system before accepting the job to lead the Legal Services Cor... read more
Acting Assistant Secretary of Administration for Children and Families: Who is David Hansell?
David Hansell has been the acting assistant secretary for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), within the Department of Health and Human Services, since July 2010. Created in 1991, ACF finances and oversees social and economic pro... read more
Ambassador to Uganda: Who Is Jerry Lanier?
Jerry P. Lanier was confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to Uganda on August 4, 2009. In an October 19, 2009, cable released by WikiLeaks, Lanier praised Uganda’s progress, but warned that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s “autocratic tendencies, as wel... read more
Is Congressional Research Service on the Verge of Change?
After 42 years of service, including 14 as director, Daniel Mulhollan is stepping down as head of the Congressional Research Service (CRS). The longest-serving leader in CRS history made a point of keeping his shop strictly neutral so as not to ... read more
Ambassador to Uzbekistan: Who Is George Krol?
George A. Krol was nominated as U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan on July 1, 2010.
Krol was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1956, and raised in Manchester Township, New Jersey, the youngest of three sons of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony J. Krol. He a... read more
Ambassador to Palau: Who is Helen Reed-Rowe?
Helen Reed-Rowe, a member of the Senior Foreign Service, is the first U.S. ambassador dedicated to the Republic of Palau. Previously, the American ambassador to the Philippines used to also handle diplomatic relations with the tiny Pacific islan... read more
Ambassador to Turkey: Who Is Francis Ricciardone?
Francis J. “Frank” Ricciardone, Jr., a career member of the Senior Foreign Service who speaks Turkish, has returned to Turkey for his third tour of duty there. President Barack Obama nominated Ricciardone on July 1, 2010. However, Senator Sam Br... read more
Ambassador to Uruguay: Who Is David Nelson?
David D. Nelson was confirmed by the Senate as U.S. Ambassador to the Uruguay on December 24, 2009, and was sworn in five days later. As ambassador, he returned to the site of his first Foreign Service posting.
Born in Minnesota, Nelson grew... read more
Ambassador to Swaziland: Who Is Earl Irving?
The U.S. ambassador to Swaziland, a small absolute monarchy in Africa with the highest prevalence of HIV and AIDS in the world, is a specialist in African affairs. Earl M. Irving was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 31, 2009, and swo... read more
Ambassador to Luxembourg Resigns: Who was Cynthia Stroum?
The U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg, Cynthia Stroum, has resigned effective January 31. She gave the usual generic reasons for her resignation—family and business.
The American ambassadorship to Luxembourg has long been reserved as a post for ... read more