For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 24, 2006

Personnel Announcement

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate two individuals, appoint one individual and designate one individual to serve in his Administration:

The President intends to nominate Thomas J. Barrett, of Alaska, to be Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration at the Department of Transportation. Vice Admiral Barrett currently serves as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. Prior to this, he served the United States Coast Guard for over thirty-five years, retiring as Vice Commandant. Vice Admiral Barrett received his bachelor's degree from LeMoyne College and his JD from The George Washington University.

The President intends to nominate Rajkumar Chellaraj, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary of State for Administration. Mr. Chellaraj currently serves as Director of Corporate Development for the Celanese Corporation. Prior to this, he served as Senior Executive Officer for the United States Mint at the Department of Treasury. Earlier in his career, Mr. Chellaraj served at Strategic Analysis Incorporated and the Exxon Corporation holding a variety of different leadership and administrative posts. Mr. Chellaraj also served as Counselor to the Assistant Administrator for the Agency for International Development at the Department of State. Mr. Chellaraj received his bachelor's degree from Madras University. He went on to receive master's degrees from Clarkson University, New York University and Harvard University.

The President intends to appoint Margaret Louise Kripke, of Texas, to be a Member of the President's Cancer Panel (Scientist), for the remainder of a three-year term expiring February 20, 2009. The President intends to designate Mary K. Bush, of Maryland, to be Chair of the Helping to Enhance the Livelihood of People (HELP) Around the Globe Commission, for the life of the commission.