THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
July 31, 2014
President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:
- Andrew LaMont Eanes – Deputy Commissioner of Social Security, Social Security Administration
- Mari Carmen Aponte – Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the Organization of American States, with the rank of Ambassador, Department of State
- Lourdes M. Castro Ramírez – Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Brodi L. Fontenot – Chief Financial Officer, Department of the Treasury
- Mary Lucille Jordan – Member, Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, and upon appointment to be designated Chairman
- P. David Lopez – General Counsel, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Robert T. Yamate – Ambassador to the Republic of Madagascar and the Union of Comoros, Department of State
President Obama also announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:
- Tanya J. Bradsher – Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Department of Homeland Security
- Brian de Vallance – Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, Department of Homeland Security
- John Norris – Member, President’s Global Development Council
President Obama said, “I am grateful that these impressive individuals have chosen to dedicate their talents to serving the American people at this important time for our country. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”
President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:
Andrew LaMont Eanes, Nominee for Deputy Commissioner of Social Security, Social Security Administration
Andrew LaMont Eanes has been the Vice President of Agile Government Services Incorporated since 2012. From 2011 to 2012, Mr. Eanes was the Chief Operating Officer of Dynis. Previously, Mr. Eanes was Chief Operations Officer of BT Conferencing from 2006 to 2010. He was the Executive Vice President of IT/Services Operations with Premiere Global Services from 2004 to 2006. From 1995 to 2003, Mr. Eanes held various positions at Sprint, Inc., including Vice President and General Manager. Mr. Eanes was the Vice President and General Manager for Sprint/United Telephone Florida from 1992 to 1994 and the Director of Network and Facilities Operations for Sprint United Management Company from 1989 to 1992. Mr. Eanes received a B.A. from Ohio Northern University and an M.B.A. from Baldwin Wallace College.
Ambassador Mari Carmen Aponte, Nominee for Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the Organization of American States, with the rank of Ambassador, Department of State
Ambassador Mari Carmen Aponte is the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of El Salvador, a position she has held since 2010. From 2005 to 2009, she was a consultant in Washington, D.C. and also practiced law in New York. From 2001 to 2004, she served as Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration. She was a consultant and practiced law in Washington, D.C. from 1994 to 2000. From 1983 to 1984, Ambassador Aponte was a Partner and Owner at Alexander, Gebhardt, Aponte & Marks, and an associate at Powell, Goldstein, Frazer, & Murphy from 1981 to 1982. She was a White House Fellow from 1979 to 1980 and served as Associate Counsel for Blue Cross of Greater Philadelphia from 1977 to 1979. She has also served as a member of several boards, including the Oriental Financial Group, the National Council of La Raza, and the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. Ambassador Aponte received a B.A. from Rosemont College, an M.A. from Villanova University, and a J.D. from Temple University School of Law.
Lourdes M. Castro Ramírez, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development
Lourdes M. Castro Ramírez is President and CEO of the San Antonio Housing Authority, a position she has held since 2009. From 2006 to 2009, she served as Director of the Section 8 Department for the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA). Ms. Castro Ramírez was Assistant and then Interim Director of the Resident Relations Department of HACLA from 2004 to 2006, and Project Director for the Jobs-Plus National Demonstration Program at HACLA from 1999 to 2004. Previously, she was a Community Development Planner for Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation from 1996 to 1999. She serves as a Board Member for the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, Centro San Antonio, and is a Co-Founder of Women in Housing Leadership. Ms. Castro Ramírez received a B.A. and an M.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Brodi L. Fontenot, Nominee for Chief Financial Officer, Department of the Treasury
Brodi L. Fontenot is the Assistant Secretary of Administration at the Department of Transportation (DOT), a position he has held since 2012. He served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration at DOT from 2010 to 2012. From 2009 to 2010, Mr. Fontenot served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget at DOT. Prior to joining DOT, Mr. Fontenot served as Budget Analyst on the United States Senate Committee on Budget from 2006 to 2009. From 2001 to 2006, he was an Analyst/Senior Analyst for the Government Accountability Office. Mr. Fontenot received a B.A. from the University of Houston and an M.P.A. from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Mary Lucille Jordan, Nominee for Member, Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, and upon appointment to be designated Chairman
Mary Lucille Jordan is currently Chairman and a Member of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (FMSHRC), positions she has held since 2009 and 2003, respectively. Additionally, Ms. Jordan served as a Member from 1994 to 2002 and as Chairman of FMSHRC from 1994 to 2001. Ms. Jordan served as a Senior Staff Attorney for the United Mine Workers of America from 1977 to 1994. She was an attorney at the Federal Register from 1976 to 1977. Ms. Jordan received a B.A. from St. Bonaventure University and a J.D. from Antioch School of Law.
P. David Lopez, Nominee for General Counsel, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
P. David Lopez is General Counsel of the U.S. Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a position he has held since 2010. Mr. Lopez has served at the EEOC in various capacities for the past 20 years. From 1998 to 2010, he was a Senior Trial Attorney and Supervisory Trial Attorney, and from 1994 to 1998 he was Special Assistant to EEOC Chairman Gilbert Casellas. From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Lopez was a Senior Trial Attorney in the Employment Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. From 1988 to 1991, he was an associate with Spiegel and McDiarmid LLP. Mr. Lopez received a B.S. from Arizona State University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Robert T. Yamate, Nominee for Ambassador to the Republic of Madagascar and the Union of the Comoros, Department of State
Robert T. Yamate, a career member of the Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, is an Assessor at the Board of Examiners in the Bureau of Human Resources at the Department of State (DOS), a position he has held since 2013. Previously, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal from 2010 to 2013. He was a Multifunctional Officer in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at DOS from 2008 to 2010, and a Management Counselor at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland from 2006 to 2008. He also served as a Management Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire from 2004 to 2006. Mr. Yamate was a Management Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe from 2002 to 2004, and a Management Officer at the American Institute in Taiwan in Taipei, Taiwan from 1999 to 2002. He was Deputy Executive Director in the Executive Office of the Bureau of Personnel at DOS from 1997 to 1999 and Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Apia, Western Samoa from 1994 to 1996. Mr. Yamate received a B.S. at California Polytechnic University at Pomona, an M.A. from the University of LaVerne, and an M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh.
President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:
Tanya J. Bradsher, Appointee for Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Department of Homeland Security
Tanya J. Bradsher is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a position she has held since April 2014. She has also been serving as Acting Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at DHS since June 2014. Previously, from 2013 to 2014, Ms. Bradsher was the Assistant Director in the Office of Public Engagement at the White House, where she was the lead for Veteran, Wounded Warrior, and Military Family Outreach. From 2011 to 2013, she served as the Assistant Press Secretary for National Security and Defense on the National Security Staff at the White House, and from 2009 to 2011 she was a Press Officer for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs at the Department of Defense. From 1993 to 2013, she served in the U.S. Army in several locations throughout the United States as well as Iraq, Haiti, and the Republic of Korea. She is a recipient of the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star for significant achievement and distinguished service and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Ms. Bradsher received a B.A. from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Brian de Vallance, Appointee for Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, Department of Homeland Security
Brian de Vallance is Counselor to the Deputy Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a position he has held since 2010. He served as Counselor to the Secretary at DHS from 2009 to 2010. From 2004 to 2009, Mr. de Vallance served as Director of Federal Relations for Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano. From 2001 to 2003, he was CEO and Co-Founder of Synaptek LLC in Arlington, VA as well as Vice President and General Counsel at METEC Asset Management. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. de Vallance was the Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Justice (DOJ), during which time he also served as the Federalism Official for DOJ. From 1994 to 1999, he was an Associate Attorney at Sacks Tierney P.A. in Phoenix, AZ. Previously, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Phoenix, AZ Mayor Paul Johnson, Judicial Law Clerk and Special Assistant to Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Stanley Feldman, and Special Assistant to Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt. Mr. de Vallance received a B.A. from Brown University and a J.D. from Arizona State University.
John Norris, Appointee for Member, President’s Global Development Council
John Norris is Executive Director of the Sustainable Security and Peacebuilding Initiative at the Center for American Progress, a position he has held since 2010. Previously, he served as Executive Director of the Enough Project from 2008 to 2010, Chief of Political Affairs for the United Nations Mission in Nepal from 2006 to 2008, and Special Adviser to the President as well as Africa Program Executive at the International Crisis Group from 2001 to 2006. He served as a Director of Communications in the Office of the Deputy Secretary of State from 1999 to 2001 and as Senior Communications Advisor for the U.S. Agency for International Development from 1994 to 1998. Mr. Norris received a B.S. from St. Lawrence University and an M.P.A. from The University of Vermont.
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