President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Tony Scott – Federal Chief Information Officer and Administrator of the Office of Electronic Government, Office of Management and Budget
• Ajay Banga – Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations
• Frankie M. Freeman – Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars
• Ross Romero – Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars
• Chrysten Lambert – Federal Representative, Klamath River Compact Commission
• Earl W. Stafford – Member, Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

President Obama said, “The talent and expertise these individuals bring to their roles will serve our nation well.  I am grateful for their service, and look forward to working with them.”

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Tony Scott, Appointee for Federal Chief Information Officer and Administrator of the Office of Electronic Government, Office of Management and Budget

Tony Scott leads the global information technology group at VMware Inc., a position he has held since 2013.  Prior to joining VMware Inc., Mr. Scott served as Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Microsoft from 2008 to 2013.  Previously, he was the CIO at The Walt Disney Company from 2005 to 2008.  From 1999 to 2005, Mr. Scott served as the Chief Technology Officer of Information Systems & Services at General Motors Corporation.  Mr. Scott received a B.A. from the University of San Francisco and a J.D. from Santa Clara University.

Ajay Banga, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations

Ajay Banga is President and CEO of MasterCard, positions he has held since 2009.  Prior to joining MasterCard, Mr. Banga held various senior management roles with Citigroup between 1996 and his departure in 2009, when he served as CEO of Citigroup Asia Pacific.  He served as Director for Marketing and Business Development at PepsiCo Restaurants International India from 1994 to 1996.  Mr. Banga began his career at Nestlé India, where he served in various sales and management roles from 1981 to 1994.  Mr. Banga is a member of the Board of Directors of MasterCard and The Dow Chemical Company, Chairman of the U.S.-India Business Council, Vice Chairman of The Business Council, Member of the Executive Committee of the Business Roundtable, Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and Member of the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum.  Mr. Banga received a B.A. from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University and an M.B.A. from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.

Frankie M. Freeman, Appointee for Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars

Frankie M. Freeman was a practicing attorney in both state and Federal courts for over sixty years until her retirement in 2009.  She most recently practiced law with Montgomery Hollie & Associates, L.L.C. Ms. Freeman began her legal career in private practice in 1949.  From 1956 to 1970 she practiced with the St. Louis Land Clearance and Housing Authorities, serving first as Associate General Counsel, and then as General Counsel of the St. Louis Housing Authority.  In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Ms. Freeman to be the first woman to serve as Member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, where she served until 1980.  In 1979, President Jimmy Carter appointed her as Inspector General for the Community Services Administration, where she served until 1980.  Ms. Freeman is a Trustee Emerita of the Board of Trustees of Howard University, and past Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Council on Aging.  She is a board member of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, and is a member of the executive committee of the St. Louis City National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).  Ms. Freeman received a B.A. from Hampton University and a J.D. from Howard University School of Law. 

Ross Romero, Appointee for Member, Commission on Presidential Scholars

Ross Romero is Vice President of the Community Development Group at Zions Bank, a position he has held since 2007.  Mr. Romero was a State Senator in the Utah State Senate from 2007 to 2012.  He served as the Utah State Senate Minority Whip from 2008 to 2010, and as the Senate Minority Leader from 2010 to 2012.  Mr. Romero was also a member of the Utah House of Representatives from 2004 to 2006.  From 2003 to 2007, he was a shareholder at Jones, Waldo, Holbrook & McDonough, and previously was an Associate from 1997 to 2003.  Mr. Romero began his legal career at Fabian & Clendenin from 1993 to 1997.  He has been a board member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials since 2011, and was Chair of the Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs from 2010 to 2012.  Mr. Romero received a B.S. from the University of Utah and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. 

Chrysten Lambert, Appointee for Federal Representative, Klamath River Compact Commission

Chrysten Lambert is the Klamath Basin Rangeland Trust’s (KBRT) Director of Water Transactions, a position she has held since 2010.  Prior to this, Ms. Lambert was the Director of Procurement and Planning from 2007 to 2010 and the Global Sourcing Manager from 2005 to 2007 for the Sabroso Company.  From 2003 to 2005, she was the Executive Director of the KBRT.  Prior to this position, she served as a Geomorphologist with the Pacific Groundwater Group from 2001 to 2003.  Ms. Lambert received a B.S. from Duke University and an M.S. from the University of Washington. 

Earl W. Stafford, Appointee for Member, Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Earl W. Stafford is Chairman, CEO, and founder of The Stafford Foundation, positions he has held since 2002.  He is also CEO of The Wentworth Group, LLC.  In 1988, he founded a training information technology company, Universal Systems and Technology, Inc. (UNITECH), and was its Chairman and CEO until 2009.  Mr. Stafford enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1967 and retired as a Captain in 1987.  Mr. Stafford served as Assistant Air Force Liaison Officer to the Federal Aviation Administration from 1982 to 1985.  He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Horatio Alger Association, a member of the Board of Governors of the Wesley Theological Seminary, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Morehouse College.   Mr. Stafford has been a Member of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities since 2012.  Mr. Stafford received a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an M.B.A. from Southern Illinois University.

Readout of the President’s Meeting with American Muslim Leaders

The President this afternoon met with American Muslim leaders to discuss a range of domestic and foreign policy issues.  The President thanked the participants for their work in a variety of fields and for coming together to offer views on issues of importance to their communities, noting that his regular interactions with different faith communities provided him with valuable insights and feedback.  Among the topics of discussion were the community’s efforts and partnerships with the Administration on a range of domestic issues such as the Affordable Care Act, issues of anti-Muslim violence and discrimination, the 21^st Century Policing Task Force, and the upcoming White House Summit on Countering Violence Extremism.  The President reiterated his Administration's commitment to safeguarding civil rights through hate crimes prosecutions and civil enforcement actions.  The President discussed the need to continue countering ISIL and other groups that commit horrific acts of violence, purportedly in the name of Islam.  Noting the remarkable contributions of Muslim Americans to our country, the President also encouraged the participants to remain civically engaged in their communities, and told them that he looked forward to seeking additional opportunities to continue the discussion of these and other issues.

President Obama Nominates Two to Serve on the United States District Courts

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, President Obama nominated Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. and Lawrence Joseph Vilardo to serve on the United States District Courts.

“I am honored to put forward these highly qualified candidates for the federal bench,” President Obama said.  “They will be distinguished public servants and valuable additions to the United States District Court.”

Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr.: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. has been a partner at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP since 1994, where his practice focuses on labor and employment issues.  From 1990 to 1994, he was an associate at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP, and from 1987 to 1990, he was an associate at Passino, Delaney & Hildebrand.  From 1984 to 1987, Crenshaw served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Tennessee, where he worked on antitrust and consumer protection litigation.  He served as a law clerk to Judge John T. Nixon of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee from 1982 to 1984.  Crenshaw began his legal career by serving as a law clerk on the Chancery Court for Davidson County, Tennessee from 1981 to 1982.  He received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1981 and his B.A. from Vanderbilt University in 1978. 

Lawrence Joseph Vilardo: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Western District of New York

Lawrence Joseph Vilardo has been a partner at Connors & Vilardo, LLP since 1986, where he handles a wide range of civil and criminal matters at both the trial and appellate levels.  Previously, he was an associate at the law firm of Damon Morey LLP from 1981 to 1986. Vilardo began his legal career by serving as a law clerk to Judge Irving L. Goldberg of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from 1980 to 1981. He received his J.D. magna cum laude in 1980 from Harvard Law School and his B.A. summa cum laude in 1977 from Canisius College.

Message -- Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Situation in or in Relation to Côte d’Ivoire

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act

(50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency, unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.  In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13396 of February 7, 2006, with respect to the situation in or in relation to Côte d'Ivoire is to continue in effect beyond February 7, 2015.

The Government of Côte d'Ivoire and its people continue to make significant progress in promotion of democratic, social, and economic development.  The United States also supports the advancement of impartial justice in Côte d'Ivoire as well as the Government of Côte d'Ivoire's efforts to prepare for a peaceful, fair, and transparent presidential election in 2015, which will be an important milestone in Côte d'Ivoire's progress.  We urge all sides to work for the benefit of the country as a whole by rejecting violence and participating in the electoral process.

While the Government of Côte d'Ivoire and its people continue to make progress toward peace and prosperity, the situation in or in relation to Côte d'Ivoire continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency and related measures blocking the property of certain persons contributing to the conflict in Côte d'Ivoire.

BARACK OBAMA