THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2009
___________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2009
President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts
WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key administration posts:
- Sara Manzano-Diaz, Director of the Women's Bureau, Department of Labor
- John F. Tefft, Ambassador to Ukraine, Department of State
President Obama said, "The individuals announced today will play an important role in my administration, each bringing an impressive background to their respective roles. I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years."
President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals today:
Sara Manzano-Diaz, Nominee for Director of the Women's Bureau, Department of Labor
Sara Manzano-Diaz has spent her career in public service advocating on behalf of working class families, women, and girls. She has more than 25 years of federal, state, and judicial experience including 16 years in senior management. Most recently, she was appointed by Governor Edward G. Rendell as Deputy Secretary for Regulatory Programs at the Pennsylvania Department of State. As Deputy Secretary, and the highest-ranking Latina in Pennsylvania state government, Ms. Manzano-Diaz is responsible for protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public by overseeing the licensure of approximately 1 million professionals. Ms. Manzano-Diaz is also a member of Gov. Rendell’s STEM Initiative Team that supports the development of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and workforce development programs. Previously, she served as Deputy General Counsel for Civil Rights and Litigation at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where she enforced fair housing, civil rights, and anti-discrimination laws. While at HUD, she implemented a compliance agreement against the largest public housing authority in the country that resulted in the creation of 9,000 disabled housing units in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. She also previously served as an Assistant Attorney General in New York and a Pro Se Attorney in the New York State Judiciary. She has served as Co-Chair of The Forum of Executive Women’s Mentoring Committee, which mentors young professional women as they begin their careers, and also participated in Madrinas, a program that provides mentors for at-risk Latina girls to encourage them to finish high school and attend college. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations and Communications from Boston University and a Law Degree from Rutgers University School of Law.
Sara Manzano-Diaz has spent her career in public service advocating on behalf of working class families, women, and girls. She has more than 25 years of federal, state, and judicial experience including 16 years in senior management. Most recently, she was appointed by Governor Edward G. Rendell as Deputy Secretary for Regulatory Programs at the Pennsylvania Department of State. As Deputy Secretary, and the highest-ranking Latina in Pennsylvania state government, Ms. Manzano-Diaz is responsible for protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public by overseeing the licensure of approximately 1 million professionals. Ms. Manzano-Diaz is also a member of Gov. Rendell’s STEM Initiative Team that supports the development of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and workforce development programs. Previously, she served as Deputy General Counsel for Civil Rights and Litigation at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where she enforced fair housing, civil rights, and anti-discrimination laws. While at HUD, she implemented a compliance agreement against the largest public housing authority in the country that resulted in the creation of 9,000 disabled housing units in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. She also previously served as an Assistant Attorney General in New York and a Pro Se Attorney in the New York State Judiciary. She has served as Co-Chair of The Forum of Executive Women’s Mentoring Committee, which mentors young professional women as they begin their careers, and also participated in Madrinas, a program that provides mentors for at-risk Latina girls to encourage them to finish high school and attend college. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations and Communications from Boston University and a Law Degree from Rutgers University School of Law.
John F. Tefft, Nominee for Ambassador to Ukraine, Department of State
John F. Tefft has been a career Foreign Service Officer for 37 years. He most recently served as United States Ambassador to the Republic of Georgia from 2005-2009. Prior to that assignment Mr. Tefft served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs and was responsible for US relations with Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. From 2003-2005 Mr. Tefft was the International Affairs Advisor at the National War College in Washington, DC. He served as the United States Ambassador to Lithuania from 2000 to 2003. He was Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Moscow from 1996 to 1999, and served as Charge d’affaires from November 1996 to September 1997. His other Foreign Service assignments include: Jerusalem, Budapest and Rome. Mr. Tefft holds a Bachelors Degree from Marquette University and a Masters Degree from Georgetown University.
John F. Tefft has been a career Foreign Service Officer for 37 years. He most recently served as United States Ambassador to the Republic of Georgia from 2005-2009. Prior to that assignment Mr. Tefft served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs and was responsible for US relations with Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. From 2003-2005 Mr. Tefft was the International Affairs Advisor at the National War College in Washington, DC. He served as the United States Ambassador to Lithuania from 2000 to 2003. He was Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Moscow from 1996 to 1999, and served as Charge d’affaires from November 1996 to September 1997. His other Foreign Service assignments include: Jerusalem, Budapest and Rome. Mr. Tefft holds a Bachelors Degree from Marquette University and a Masters Degree from Georgetown University.
##
