Appointments and Resignations
Ambassador to Argentina: Who is Vilma Martínez?
Vilma S. Martínez, the U.S. ambassador to Argentina, has a long history of straddling the worlds of corporate boardrooms and legal defense of minorities. One of the leading voices in Hispanic civil rights since the 1970s, Martínez has run the Mex... read more
Director of the Office of Management and Budget: Who is Jacob Lew?
President Barack Obama has turned to an old pro to take over the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Jacob “Jack” J. Lew, who ran OMB during the last three years of the Clinton administration, when the federal budget ran a billion-dollar surplu... read more
Chief of United States Forest Service: Who is Tom Tidwell?
Like those before him, Thomas Tidwell has risen up through the ranks of the U.S. Forest Service during his 32-year career before being appointed chief of the agency on June 17, 2009, by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
After growing up in Bo... read more
Director of the National Science Foundation: Who is Subra Suresh?
Most recently the dean of the engineering school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Subra Suresh has been nominated by President Barack Obama to run the National Science Foundation, which supports fundamental research and education in s... read more
Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu: Who Is Teddy Taylor?
Teddy B. Taylor, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service holding the rank of Minister Counselor, was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu on September 21, 2009. In a move sure to win hearts and mi... read more
Director of National Intelligence: Who is James Clapper?
James R. Clapper, Jr. has extensive experience in intelligence matters, having worked in the field during his four-decade career in the U.S. Air Force and in the administration of President George W. Bush. However, his nomination by President Bara... read more
Ambassador to Micronesia: Who Is Peter Prahar?
A former Air Force translator, Peter A. Prahar, is the latest ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), a country of tiny, scattered islands in the Western Pacific. In 1983, the US and FSM governments entered into a status of Free As... read more
Acting Director of Federal Housing Finance Agency: Who is Edward DeMarco?
Edward J. DeMarco has served since September 1, 2009, as acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which regulates Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks.
DeMarco attended college at the University of N... read more
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Minerals Management Service): Who is Michael Bromwich?
Unlike most Obama administration appointees, Michael R. Bromwich won’t merely be asked to run his new agency—but completely reshape it while resurrecting the federal government’s reputation for regulating oil and gas leases. Bromwich also is unlik... read more
Ambassador to Serbia: Who Is Mary Burce Warlick?
The current U.S. ambassador to Serbia enjoys an unusually close relationship to the U.S. ambassador to neighboring Bulgaria, not because of any quesstionable dealings, but because the two diplomats in question are married to one another. Mary Burc... read more
Ambassador to Bulgaria: Who Is James Warlick?
The current U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria enjoys unusually close access to the new U.S. ambassador to neighboring Serbia, not because of any nefarious dealings, but because the two diplomats in question are married to one another. James B. Warlick, ... read more
Undersecretary of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security: Who is Eric Hirschhorn?
The agency responsible for ensuring that technology that can be used to build weapons of mass destruction does not fall into the wrong hands has a new leader, following a confirmation delay of more than six months. Eric L. Hirschhorn, whom Preside... read more
Commandant of the Marine Corps: Who is James Amos?
In becoming the commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, General James F. Amos would represent a major break with tradition, making him the first leader of the armed service with a background as a fighter pilot. All previous commandants have been comm... read more
National Ocean Service: Who is David Kennedy?
A 20-year veteran of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, David M. Kennedy has served as the acting assistant administrator for the National Ocean Service
since October 2009. He has specialized in dealing with oil and chemical spi... read more
Corporation for National and Community Service: Who is Patrick Corvington?
Patrick Corvington was sworn in as Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) on February 18, 2010. He has spent much of his career in the non-profit world, focusing on issues ranging from homelessness to ... read more
Ambassador to Cambodia: Who is Carol Rodley?
A career officer in the Senior Foreign Service, Carol A. Rodley is serving her second tour in Cambodia, having worked in the Southeast Asian country in the late 1990s. Although she has served in many capacities in the State Department, Rodley is w... read more