Obama's Choice for Budget Director

Obama announced his choice to lead the White House budget office. As expected, Obama selected Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the president of the Walmart Foundation, (the charitable group). She worked for a long time at the Gates Foundation at a high level. She has also worked extensively in the Clinton administration.

Burwell worked on the Clinton-Gore presidential campaign in 1992, she became staff director for the National Economic Council under Robert Rubin, she followed Rubin to Treasury where she was his chief of staff before working as as deputy chief of staff under Erskine Bowles, and then she was deputy director of OMB under Jack Lew.

Obama Nominates Former Oil Employee and Conservationist as Head of the Interior Department

Obama's nominee for Head of the Interior Department is a study in contrasts. Sally Jewell's resume includes work in the oil industry, banking and more recently CEO of an outdoor equipment company where she was described as a conservationist. Jewell was nominated on February 6, 2013 and if she is confirmed by the Senate, Jewell would replace Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. This is an important portfolio for the environment as the Interior Department manages the nation's public lands, water, wildlife and energy resources.

Jewell holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington. Jewell is married and has two grown children.

Most notably Jewell worked as an engineer with Mobil Oil and prior to that she spent two decades in the banking industry. Her most recent job in banking was overseeing Washington Mutual's commercial-banking group, according to The Seattle Times. She had previously served as president of WestOne Bank from 1992 to 1995, and as an executive at Rainier Bank/Security Pacific from 1981 to 1992.

Obama Nominates Nuclear Physicist for Energy Secretary

On Monday March 4, President Barack Obama announced that he had nominated a nuclear physicist from MIT as his choice for energy secretary. The President tapped Dr Ernest J Moniz to take over for Steven Chu as head the Department of Energy (DOE).

The President will look to Moniz, to reduce US dependence on foreign oil and establish America as a leader in clean energy technology. Moniz was the Under Secretary of the DOE during the Clinton administration.

Moniz was confirmed by the US Senate as Under Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) on 28 October 1997. As Under Secretary, Dr Moniz advised the Secretary and oversaw the DOE’s research and development portfolio, including energy and environmental technologies, national security, and fundamental science. He oversees the national laboratory system and national security programmes, including stockpile stewardship and non-proliferation.

Obama Nominates Air Quality Expert to Head the EPA

On Monday March 4, President Barack Obama announced that an air quality expert would be his nominee for the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As a veteran of the EPA, Gina McCarthy is a good choice to replace Lisa Jackson as administrator.

The 58 year old McCarthy earned a B.A., from the University of Massachusetts and has an M.S., from Tufts University. She is married to Kenneth McCarey; and has three children.

One of the more interesting aspects of McCarthy's previous work experience is the fact that she is a former employee of Mitt Romney.