Appointments and Resignations
U.S. Ambassador to China: Who is Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.?
Jon M. Huntsman Jr. does not fit the typical profile of a U.S. ambassador. Generally, ambassadors fall into one of two camps: Career diplomats; or wealthy political contributors rewarded for their support of the president and his party. Huntsman h... read more
Federal Housing Administration: Who is Dave Stevens?
President Barack Obama’s nominee to the Federal Housing Administration, David H. Stevens was born in New York City and raised in Connecticut. After graduating from University of Colorado at Boulder, Stevens joined California’s World Savings Bank i... read more
Administrator of the Transportation Research and Innovative Technology Administration: Who Is Peter H. Appel?
On April 29, 2009, the Senate confirmed transportation industry insider Peter H. Appel to be the next administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration in the Department of Transportation. Born in 1964, Appel earned his bachel... read more
Obama to Replace Only Female Native American U.S. Attorney
Some might call it politically ironic, while others just downright unfair, but Diane J. Humetewa is about to be out of a job. Humetewa became the first female Native American U.S. attorney in history during the Bush administration—the same adminis... read more
Wildlife Advocates Object to Obama Fish and Wildlife Nominee
Whoever heads the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is expected not to be shy about using the Endangered Species Act (ESA) so that plants and animals aren’t threatened by development. But President Barack Obama’s nominee to lead the environment... read more
Office of Professional Responsibility: Who is Mary Patrice Brown?
In becoming only the third person to head the Department of Justice’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) since its post-Watergate creation in 1975, Mary Patrice Brown is expected to help Attorney General Eric Holder rebuild the reputation... read more
Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Who is Jordan Barab?
Organized labor was nothing short of giddy when President Barack Obama decided to make Jordan Barab the temporary head, and permanent No. 2 official, at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Having spent his entire professional... read more
Federal Transit Administrator: Who is Peter Rogoff?
An expert in federal infrastructure budgeting and finance, Peter M. Rogoff was confirmed on May 21, 2009, as the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration. Rogoff spent the past two decades working for the U.S. Senate as a key aide to De... read more
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Administration: Who is Jane Oates?
Jane Oates, President Obama’s choice to head the Employment and Training Administration, was confirmed by the Senate on June 12, 2009. She began her career as a special education teacher, and once helped advise the company behind the controversial... read more
No More Czars: Ken Klukowski
President Barack Obama has gone too far with his numerous “czar” appointments, which represents a massive power grab, argues Ken Klukowski, a legal analyst in Washington, D.C. By some counts, Obama has created 16 czars, with even more on the way, ... read more
Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing: Who Is Sandra Henriquez?
On April 10, 2009, President Obama named Sandra Henriquez as the new Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing (PIH), a position within the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and she was confirmed on May 21. PIH manages programs ... read more
Chair of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission: Who Is Thomasina Rogers?
On April 14, 2009, President Obama appointed Thomasina V. Rogers to be Chair of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, an independent, quasi-judicial agency responsible for hearing appeals from decisions made by the Occupational Saf... read more
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs: Who is Jeffrey Feltman?
In taking over the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Jeffrey D. Feltman is no stranger to the issues and key players of the region, having spent much of his Foreign Service career in diplomatic posts in Israel and Lebanon. Feltman... read more
Director of the Census Bureau: Who Is Robert Groves?
On April 2, 2009, President Obama nominated Dr. Robert M. Groves to be the next Director of the Census Bureau, where he will direct the 2010 Census. Groves is a generally uncontroversial professor of sociology However, his nomination is contentio... read more
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs: Who is Johnnie Carson?
A retired U.S. ambassador, Johnnie Carson spent 37 years working for the Foreign Service, mostly on assignments throughout sub-Saharan Africa. On May 6, 2009, he was confirmed as the Assistant Secretary for African Affairs.
Born on April 7, 19... read more
Bush State Department Historian Dumped
The State Department has decided to replace its top historian, responsible for overseeing the publication of the U.S. government’s official history of American foreign policy, after an investigation turned up allegations that included a “lack of i... read more