Jump to main content

This is historical material “frozen in time”. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work.

Search form

Briefing Room

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
September 12, 2012

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

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

  • Christopher R. Beall – Director, AMTRAK Board of Directors
  • Lorne W. Craner -  Member, Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation

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

Christopher R. Beall, Nominee for Director, AMTRAK Board of Directors
Christopher R. Beall is a Partner at Highstar Capital, L.P., an infrastructure investment firm specializing in the transportation, environmental services, and energy sectors. From 2003 to 2004, Mr. Beall served as the Chief Financial Officer for Aslan Group, where he directed capital and human resource optimization efforts and oversaw the company's entry into the environmental services business. Before joining Aslan, he served as an Associate in the Global Natural Resources division of Lehman Brothers Inc. from 2000 to 2003.  Mr. Beall received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University and an M.B.A. from Harvard.

Lorne W. Craner, Nominee for Member, Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation
Lorne W. Craner is currently President of the International Republican Institute (IRI), a role he previously held from 1995 to 2001.  From 2001 to 2004, he served as Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the Department of State.  Before serving as President of IRI, he was Vice President for Programs at IRI from 1993 to 1995.  Previously, Mr. Craner served as Director of Asian Affairs for the National Security Council at The White House from 1992 to 1993, and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs from 1989 to 1992.  From 1986 to 1989, he was a Legislative Assistant for Senator John McCain.  He began his career as a Legislative Assistant for Congressman Jim Kolbe.  Mr. Craner served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation from 2007 to 2010.  He received a B.A. from Reed College and an M.A. from Georgetown University.