For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 15, 2005

Personnel Announcement

President George W. Bush today announced the nomination of eight individuals to serve in his Administration.

The President nominated the following individuals to be Members of the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission:

James H. Bilbray of Nevada. Former Congressman Bilbray was a member of the Foreign Affairs, Armed Services and Intelligence Committees. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1955 to 1963.

Philip Coyle of California. Mr. Coyle is a Senior Advisor to the Center for Defense Information. He served as Assistant Secretary of Defense and Director of Operational Test and Evaluation at the Department of Defense.

Admiral Harold W. Gehman, Jr., USN (Ret.) of Virginia. Admiral Gehman served on active duty in the U.S. Navy for over 35 years. His last assignment was as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic and as the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Joint Forces Command.

James V. Hansen of Utah. Former Congressman Hansen was a member of the Armed Services Committee. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955.

General James T. Hill, USA (Ret.) of Florida. General Hill served in the U.S. Army for 36 years. His last assignment was as Combatant Commander of the U.S. Southern Command.

Lieutenant General Claude M. Kicklighter, USA (Ret.) of Georgia. Mr. Kicklighter is the Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning at the Department of Veterans Affairs. He served in the U.S. Army for nearly 36 years.

Samuel Knox Skinner of Illinois. Mr. Skinner served as Chief of Staff and as Secretary of Transportation for President George H. W. Bush. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1960 to 1968.

Brigadier General Sue Ellen Turner, USAF (Ret.) of Texas. General Turner is a member of the American Battle Monuments Commission. She served in the U.S. Air Force for 30 years, most recently as the director of nursing services in the Office of the Air Force Surgeon General at Bolling Air Force Base.

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