Berry to say 'g'day' to Australia
Obama taps former OPM chief as ambassador to the land down under.
President Obama has nominated former OPM leader John Berry to be ambassador to the land down under. (House Oversight and Government Reform Committee photo).
President Obama announced the nomination of John Berry for the post of ambassador to Australia on June 21.
Berry headed the Office of Personnel Management from April 2009 to April 2013. At OPM, Berry will be remembered for working to extend health benefits to the domestic partners of lesbian and gay federal employees where allowable by law, advocating raises for federal employees, pioneering telework and working to reduce the backlog of processing retirement claims while speeding hiring times for federal employees.
Before joining OPM, Berry was the director of the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., from 2005 to 2009, and was executive director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation before that. He also served as a legislative aide to Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).
Obamam included Berry’s nomination in a group of senior appointments. “These men and women have demonstrated knowledge and dedication throughout their careers. I am grateful they have chosen to take on these important roles, and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come,” Obama said in a statement.
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