WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Barack Obama announced that
Thomas Paul D'Agostino, Under Secretary for Nuclear Security of the
Department of Energy and Administrator for Nuclear Security of the
National Nuclear Security Administration, will continue serving in
his current role.
The following is a quote from the President included in today's
White House press release (the full release is included below):
"The dedication and talent of these individuals will be
tremendously valuable to my administration as we work to tackle our
challenges at home and abroad, and I look forward to working with
them in the coming months and years."
Thomas Paul D'Agostino, Under Secretary for Nuclear Security of
the Department of Energy and Administrator for Nuclear Security of
the National Nuclear Security Administration
Thomas Paul D'Agostino was sworn-in on August 30, 2007 as the
Undersecretary for Nuclear Security at the U.S. Department of
Energy and the Administrator for the National Nuclear Security
Administration (NNSA). The NNSA's responsibilities
include designing, producing, and maintaining safe, secure and
reliable nuclear weapons for the U.S. military, providing safe,
militarily effective naval nuclear propulsion plants, responding to
nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad and
promoting international nuclear safety and nonproliferation.
Prior to serving as Administrator, Mr. D'Agostino served as the
Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs at NNSA and directed the
Stockpile Stewardship Program, which is responsible for maintaining
the safety, security, and reliability of the nation's nuclear
weapons stockpile. He was also previously the Deputy Director
for the Nuclear Weapons Research, Development, and Simulation
Program where he directed the formulation of the programs and
budget for the research and development program that supports the
Stockpile Stewardship Program. He spent over eight years on active
duty in the Navy as a submarine officer to include assignments
onboard the USS SKIPJACK (SSN 585) and with the Board of Inspection
and Survey where he was the Main Propulsion and Nuclear Reactor
Inspector. D'Agostino earned his undergraduate degree from
the United States Naval Academy, his masters in Business Finance
from Johns Hopkins University and his masters in National Security
Studies from the Naval War College as a distinguished graduate.
President Obama Announces More Key
Administration Posts
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Barack Obama announced his
intent to nominate the following individuals for key administration
posts:
- Barbara J. Bennett, Chief Financial Officer, Environmental
Protection Agency
- Michael Punke, Deputy Trade Representative - Geneva, Office of
the United States Trade Representative
President Obama also announced that Thomas Paul D'Agostino,
Under Secretary for Nuclear Security of the Department of Energy
and Administrator for Nuclear Security of the National Nuclear
Security Administration, will continue serving in his current
role.
President Obama said, "The dedication and talent of these
individuals will be tremendously valuable to my administration as
we work to tackle our challenges at home and abroad, and I look
forward to working with them in the coming months and years."
President Obama announced his intent to nominate the
following individuals today:
Barbara J. Bennett, Nominee for Chief Financial Officer,
Environmental Protection Agency
Barbara J. Bennett is a global business executive with over 25
years of experience. She is the former Senior Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of Discovery
Communications. From 1990 to 2007, Bennett was a key member
of the team that built the parent company of the Discovery Channel
into one of the world's most extensive media enterprises, with more
than 100 channels telecast in 170 countries, in over 30 languages
to over one billion subscribers. As CFO, she was responsible for
the worldwide financial functions and strategies of the company
including accounting, treasury, budgeting, reporting, audit, tax
activities, and evaluation of new growth opportunities, and leading
a multi-cultural, multi-lingual team located in the five leading
international hub offices in addition to corporate headquarters.
Since 2007, Bennett has been an independent consultant working with
companies and non-profit organizations with interests in media,
hospitality, tourism, and professional sports. She serves on
the board of National Rehabilitation Hospital and chairs the
investment committee of Presbyterian Homes & Family
Services. She earned her bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt
University and completed executive programs at Harvard Business
School and Yale University.
Michael Punke, Nominee for Deputy Trade Representative - Geneva,
Office of the United States Trade Representative
Michael Punke has worked in the field of international trade law
and policy for two decades. From 1995 to 1996, Punke served
as Senior Policy Advisor at the Office of the United States Trade
Representative.
There, he advised the USTR on issues ranging from agricultural
trade to intellectual property protection. From 1993 to 1995,
Punke served at the White House as Director for International
Economic Affairs with a joint appointment to the National Security
Council and the National Economic Council. His
responsibilities included assisting in the management of the
interagency process. From 1991 to 1992, Punke was
International Trade Counsel to Senator Max Baucus, then Chairman of
the Finance Committee's International Trade Subcommittee.
Punke has also worked on international trade issues from the
private sector, including as a partner at the Washington, D.C.,
office of Mayer, Brown, Rowe, & Maw. During the past six
years, Punke has advised clients on trade issues through Michael
Punke Consulting out of Missoula, Montana. He also has worked
as an adjunct professor at the University of Montana and as a
writer, authoring a novel, two books of nonfiction, and two
screenplays. Punke is a graduate of George Washington
University and Cornell Law School, where he was elected
Editor-in-Chief of the Cornell International Law Journal.
President Obama also made the following announcement today:
Thomas Paul D'Agostino, Under Secretary for Nuclear
Security of the Department of Energy and Administrator for Nuclear
Security of the National Nuclear Security
Administration
Thomas Paul D'Agostino was sworn-in on August 30, 2007 as the
Undersecretary for Nuclear Security at the U.S. Department of
Energy and the Administrator for the National Nuclear Security
Administration (NNSA). The NNSA's responsibilities
include designing, producing, and maintaining safe, secure and
reliable nuclear weapons for the U.S. military, providing safe,
militarily effective naval nuclear propulsion plants, responding to
nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad and
promoting international nuclear safety and nonproliferation.
Prior to serving as Administrator, Mr. D'Agostino served as the
Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs at NNSA and directed the
Stockpile Stewardship Program, which is responsible for maintaining
the safety, security, and reliability of the nation's nuclear
weapons stockpile. He was also previously the Deputy Director
for the Nuclear Weapons Research, Development, and Simulation
Program where he directed the formulation of the programs and
budget for the research and development program that supports the
Stockpile Stewardship Program. He spent over eight years on active
duty in the Navy as a submarine officer to include assignments
onboard the USS SKIPJACK (SSN 585) and with the Board of Inspection
and Survey where he was the Main Propulsion and Nuclear Reactor
Inspector. D'Agostino earned his undergraduate degree from
the United States Naval Academy, his masters in Business Finance
from Johns Hopkins University and his masters in National Security
Studies from the Naval War College as a distinguished graduate.
SOURCE