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

Nominations and Withdrawal Sent to the Senate

Anita K. Blair, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, vice Michael L. Dominguez.

Paul A. Denett, of Virginia, to be Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, vice David Safavian.

Anne E. Derse, of Maryland, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Robert S. Ford, of Maryland, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria.

Dirk Kempthorne, of Idaho, to be Secretary of the Interior, vice Gale Ann Norton, resigned.

Mark V. Rosenker, of Maryland, to be Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board for a term of two years, vice Ellen G. Engleman, term expired.

Leslie V. Rowe, of Washington, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Papua New Guinea, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Solomon Islands and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Vanuatu.

Daniel S. Sullivan, of Alaska, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Economic and Business Affairs), vice Earl Anthony Wayne.

WITHDRAWAL SENT TO THE SENATE:

John G. Emling, of Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, vice Brett T. Palmer, resigned, which was sent to the Senate on February 27, 2006.

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