Connect with us

Politics

President Biden Announces 11 Key Nominations

Published

on

FILE - President-elect Joe Biden introduces nominees and appointees to key national security and foreign policy posts at The Queen theater, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

WASHINGTON (FNN) – Source: White House // Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate the following 11 individuals to serve in key roles:

  • Rahul Gupta, Nominee for Director of National Drug Control Policy
  • Gabe Camarillo, Nominee for Under Secretary of the Army, Department of Defense
  • Alan Estevez, Nominee for Under Secretary for Industry and Security, Department of Commerce
  • Jeff Lane Flake, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Turkey
  • Kent Doyle Logsdon, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Moldova
  • Atul Gawande, Nominee for Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development
  • Lisa Wang, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, Department of Commerce
  • Chester John Culver, Nominee for Member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation
  • Rich Trumka, Jr., Nominee for Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission
  • James A. Diossa, Nominee for Member of the Board of Trustees of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
  • Terrence K. Wright, Nominee for Member of the Board of Trustees of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation

Rahul Gupta, Nominee for Director of National Drug Control Policy
Rahul Gupta, MD, MPH, MBA, FACP, is the Chief Medical and Health Officer and Senior Vice President at March of Dimes. In his role, Dr. Gupta provides strategic oversight for March of Dimes’ domestic and global medical and public health efforts. He currently also serves as clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine as well as adjunct professor in the Department of Health Policy, Management and Leadership in the School of Public Health at West Virginia University and visiting faculty at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

A practicing primary care physician of 25 years, Dr. Gupta previously served under two Governors as the Health Commissioner of West Virginia. As the state’s Chief Health Officer, he led the opioid crisis response efforts and launched a number of pioneering public health initiatives, including the Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Birthscore program to identify high-risk infants. Dr. Gupta also led the development of the state’s Zika action plan and its preparedness efforts during the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak.

A national and global thought leader and a driver of innovative public policies on health issues, Dr. Gupta serves as an advisor to several organizations and task forces on local, national and international public health policy. The son of an Indian diplomat, Rahul was born in India and grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. At age 21, he completed medical school at the University of Delhi. He earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Alabama-Birmingham and a global master’s of business administration degree from the London School of Business and Finance. He is married to Dr. Seema Gupta, a physician in the Veterans Administration for over a decade. They are the proud parents of identical twin sons, Arka and Drew.

Gabe Camarillo, Nominee for Under Secretary of the Army, Department of Defense
Gabe Camarillo is a lawyer who served in various positions in the Department of Defense during the Obama-Biden administration. In 2015, Mr. Camarillo was appointed as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower & Reserve Affairs) overseeing all manpower and reserve component matters affecting over 670,000 military and civilian personnel. From 2012 to 2015, he served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics & Technology), where he helped lead the Army’s research and development and modernization portfolio. From 2010 to 2012, Mr. Camarillo previously served as the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics & Technology).

Mr. Camarillo is currently a Senior Vice President at SAIC and previously held other leadership positions in the company. He has also worked as a lawyer in private practice, specializing in commercial litigation, campaign finance and government ethics. He received his law degree from Stanford Law School and his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, where he previously served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s School of Public Policy.

Alan Estevez, Nominee for Under Secretary for Industry and Security, Department of Commerce
Alan Estevez, a recognized leader in the defense and aerospace community, joined Deloitte Consulting as a national security strategy and logistics executive in June 2017 after completing a 36 year career with the Department of Defense. Mr. Estevez served as the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology & Logistics) from 2013 to 2017. Mr. Estevez developed, implemented and managed acquisition, contracting, installation, and logistics programs and policies that increased combat effectiveness as well as the department’s efficiency and buying power.

Prior to his last appointment, Mr. Estevez held several key positions within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, including as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Materiel Readiness. In this position, he was responsible for providing world class military logistics support to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. He was the first career Federal official to hold this position. Mr. Estevez also served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Material Readiness. Mr. Estevez has been honored numerous times, including three Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medals and the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal.

Estevez holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Rutgers University and a Master of Science in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University.

Jeff Lane Flake, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Turkey
Jeffry L. Flake is currently a Distinguished Fellow at Arizona State University and a Distinguished Fellow at the Sorensen Center for Moral and Ethical Leadership at Brigham Young University. He also serves on the Senior Advisory Committee at Harvard’s Institute of Politics. Flake was a Member of Congress for 18 years, representing Arizona in the U.S. Senate (2013-2019) and the U.S. House of Representatives (2001-2013), where he served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. A frequent public speaker, he is also a former contributor for CNN and CBS News. Flake is a Director of Taylor Morrison, a home builder in Scottsdale, Arizona, and a former Executive Director of the Goldwater Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Early in his career, he was Executive Director of the Foundation for Democracy in Namibia. He speaks Afrikaans. He earned a B.A. in International Relations, and an M.A. in Political Science, at Brigham Young University. He is a recipient of the Gold Medal of Honorary Patronage from the University Philosophical Society, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.

Kent Doyle Logsdon, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Moldova
Kent Doyle Logsdon, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor, is Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment. Previously, he served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Energy Resources, and was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany, serving as Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. from January 2017 to May 2018. Prior to that, Logsdon was the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, and Deputy Executive Secretary of the State Department. Previous positions include Director of the Operations Center, Director of the Office of Russian Affairs, and Deputy Chief of Mission in Tbilisi, Georgia. Logsdon also served in Kyiv, Ukraine; Bangkok, Thailand; Almaty, Kazakhstan; Islamabad, Pakistan; and Stuttgart, Germany. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Notre Dame. The recipient of a Presidential Meritorious Service Award, Logsdon speaks Russian, Ukrainian, Thai and German.

Atul Gawande, Nominee for Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development
Atul Gawande, MD, MPH, is the Cyndy and John Fish Distinguished Professor of Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Samuel O. Thier Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, and Professor of Health Policy and Management at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Gawande is also founder and chair of Ariadne Labs, a joint center for health systems innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and of Lifebox, a nonprofit organization making surgery safer globally. During the coronavirus pandemic, he co-founded CIC Health, which operates COVID-19 testing and vaccination nationally, and served as a member of the Biden transition COVID-19 Advisory Board. From 2018 to 2020, he was CEO of Haven, the Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JPMorgan Chase health care venture. He previously served as a senior advisor in the Department of Health and Human Services in the Clinton Administration.

In addition, Atul has been a staff writer for The New Yorker magazine since 1998 and written four New York Times best-selling books: Complications, Better, The Checklist Manifesto, and Being Mortal. He is the winner of two National Magazine Awards, AcademyHealth’s Impact Award for highest research impact on health care, a MacArthur Fellowship, and the Lewis Thomas Award for writing about science.

Lisa Wang, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, Department of Commerce
Ms. Wang has been a partner with Picard, Kentz and Rowe LLP since 2016. She specializes in international trade law matters, including antidumping and countervailing duty litigation and trade policy issues. Previously, Ms. Wang was a Senior Attorney in the Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement and Compliance at the U.S. Department of Commerce, and an Assistant General Counsel in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Before that, she spent three years as the Senior Import Administration Officer for the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China, and was an associate with Dewey Ballantine LLP. She earned her JD from the Georgetown University Law Center, and her BS from Cornell University. Ms. Wang is married to Timothy Kovacs, where they reside in Washington, D.C. with their two young daughters.

Chester John Culver, Nominee for Member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation
Chet Culver served as the 40th Governor of Iowa from 2007 to 2011. Under his leadership, Iowa successfully managed a $6 billion annual budget, earned a “Triple A” bond rating, and built up one of the largest budget surpluses in the nation. As governor, Culver led Iowa to become the renewable energy capital of the United States.

A public servant for over 25 years, Culver previously served on the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Board during the Obama Administration. He also served as the Secretary of State of Iowa from 1999 to 2007 and was a former teacher and coach in his community. Culver founded the Chet Culver Group, an energy sector consulting firm, in 2011.

Rich Trumka, Jr., Nominee for Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission
Rich Trumka Jr. is General Counsel & Staff Director of the Economic and Consumer Policy Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Oversight and Reform. In this position, he works on oversight and investigations related to consumer protection, consumer product safety, and public health. Trumka previously served as Assistant Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. Prior to that, he was a litigation attorney in private practice.

Trumka received his bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. After law school, Trumka served as a judicial law clerk to Judge Berle M. Schiller of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Trumka and his wife, Jessica, live in Maryland with their son and daughter.

James A. Diossa, Nominee for Member of the Board of Trustees of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
James A. Diossa served two terms as Mayor of the City of Central Falls, Rhode Island. Upon taking office in 2012, James became the youngest mayor in the state’s history and the city’s first Latino mayor. Assuming leadership of a postindustrial urban city in the midst of municipal bankruptcy proceedings, he sought to tackle these challenges head-on. Through hard work and the development of strategic partnerships, James turned Central Falls around, stabilizing the city’s finances and raising its long-term bond rating to investment grade. He also secured millions of dollars in federal, foundation, and private sector funding to improve the city’s quality of life and infrastructure. Most recently, James led efforts to partner with the neighboring city of Pawtucket to create a unified response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which included organizing a volunteer corps and engaging the former head of the Rhode Island Department of Health to serve as the city’s Chief Health Strategist.

James previously served on the Central Falls City Council, where he organized citywide efforts to save the city’s only library from closing and stopped the US Postal Service from closing the city’s only post office. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Becker College. Born and raised in Central Falls, Rhode Island, James is the proud son of Colombian immigrants and a lifelong soccer enthusiast.

James is currently a Senior Advisor at Brown University’s The Policy Lab. His lifelong partner Sandra and James have a beautiful daughter, Arianna Hallel.

Terrence K. Wright, Nominee for Member of the Board of Trustees of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
Terrence K. Wright, of Wilmington, Delaware, is a 1982 graduate of The American University in Washington, DC. From 1982 to 2009, Mr. Wright served in various positions on the staff of United States Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr., both in Washington, DC, and in Wilmington, Delaware.

Upon his retirement from the Senate in 2009, Mr. Wright was appointed by Delaware Governor Jack Markell to the Delaware Heritage Commission, a state agency which promotes the study of the History of Delaware. He has since been reappointed by the current Governor, John C. Carney, Jr., and was Chairman of the Commission’s Observance of the Sesquicentennial of The Civil War. In that capacity, he was the Executive Producer of the Commission educational film, entitled, “Delaware and Gettysburg: The Story of Delaware, Delawareans, and The Battle that Determined America’s Future.”

Mr. Wright in currently serving on New Castle, County, Delaware’s Council Redistricting Commission, which is charged with redrawing the County’s Councilmanic boundaries in light of the 2020 Census. He served in the same capacity after the 2010 Census. Additionally, Mr. Wright is currently the Chairman of the Eastern Brandywine Hundred Coordinating Council, a community organization dedicated to local history and community planning in the communities along the Delaware River in northern Delaware.

Central Florida News

City of Orlando Earns Top-Tier ISO Building Code Effectiveness Rating, Reinforcing Commitment to Safety and Resilience

Published

on

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — The City of Orlando has earned a Building Code Effectiveness Grading Scale (BCEGS) rating of 2 from the Insurance Services Office (ISO), marking an improvement from its previous rating of 3 received during the city’s 2023 evaluation.

The improved rating recognizes the city’s continued commitment to enforcing strong building codes that enhance public safety, strengthen disaster resilience and support long-term economic growth.

Orlando Surpasses State Averages

The ISO’s BCEGS program evaluates how effectively local governments adopt and enforce modern building codes for residential and commercial construction. Ratings range from 1 to 10, with 1 representing the highest level of building code effectiveness.

Orlando earned a rating of 2 in both the residential and commercial categories, outperforming Florida’s statewide averages.

According to the city:

  • Orlando Residential Rating: 2
  • Florida Residential Average: 4
  • Orlando Commercial Rating: 2
  • Florida Commercial Average: 3

The city’s performance also exceeds national ISO averages, reflecting Orlando’s continued investment in building safety and code enforcement.

Mayor Buddy Dyer Praises Permitting Team

Mayor Buddy Dyer credited the city’s Permitting Services Division for the achievement.

“This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting our community through strong building safety standards,” Dyer said. “Our Permitting Services team works every day to ensure that homes, businesses and other structures throughout Orlando are built safely and in accordance with the highest standards.”

Benefits for Residents and Businesses

City officials said a stronger ISO BCEGS rating offers several potential benefits for homeowners, businesses and developers, including:

  • Potential reductions in property insurance premiums for qualifying residential and commercial properties.
  • Improved disaster preparedness and faster recovery following hurricanes and other natural hazards.
  • Greater community resilience through safer, more durable construction.
  • Enhanced economic competitiveness by attracting new commercial investment and development.

While insurance savings vary by insurer and policy, many companies consider ISO ratings when assessing property risk.

Comprehensive Evaluation Process

Communities participating in the BCEGS program are evaluated across 27 categories, including:

  • Building code adoption
  • Code enforcement practices
  • Inspection procedures
  • Staff qualifications and training
  • Administrative processes
  • Fire prevention coordination
  • Permitting operations

The City of Orlando said the improved rating reflects the collaborative efforts of building inspectors, plans examiners, permitting technicians, fire marshals, code officials and administrative staff who work together to ensure new construction complies with current safety standards.

Investing in Long-Term Resilience

City officials noted that strong building codes not only improve life safety but also reduce property damage during hurricanes and other disasters.

More resilient buildings help stabilize neighborhoods, preserve property values and protect the local tax base that funds essential public services, including:

  • Police and fire protection
  • Transportation infrastructure
  • Parks and recreation
  • Public works
  • Community services

The improved ISO rating underscores Orlando’s ongoing commitment to maintaining high construction standards while supporting sustainable growth throughout the city.

Continue Reading

Central Florida News

Orange County Sheriff’s Office: Teen Arrested on Evidence Tampering Charge in Deadly Old Cheney Highway Shooting

Published

on

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — The Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that a teenager has been arrested on an evidence tampering charge as detectives continue investigating the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old girl in east Orange County.

Authorities identified the suspect as Jehovah Jeremiah Mitchell, 19, who was arrested and charged with Tampering With or Fabricating Physical Evidence. Investigators emphasized that the homicide investigation remains active and that no additional charges or details have been released.

Victim Identified

The Sheriff’s Office previously identified the victim as Skyler Ley’Shea Bradford, 17.

Bradford died after being shot on Wednesday, July 29, in the 5500 block of Old Cheney Highway.

Investigation Timeline

According to investigators, deputies responded to reports of a shooting at approximately 4:55 p.m. on July 29.

When deputies arrived, they found Bradford suffering from a gunshot wound. She was transported to a local hospital, where she later died.

The Sheriff’s Office said all individuals involved remained at the scene when deputies arrived and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.

Arrest Announced

On Friday, investigators announced Mitchell’s arrest on a charge of Tampering With or Fabricating Physical Evidence.

Authorities have not released details explaining what evidence was allegedly tampered with or whether additional arrests or charges are anticipated.

Investigation Continues

Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Bradford’s death.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has not released information regarding a possible motive, the events leading up to the shooting, or whether the incident may have been accidental or intentional.

Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Office or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477). Anonymous tips may be eligible for a reward.

What We Know

  • Victim: Skyler Ley’Shea Bradford, 17
  • Incident Date: July 29, 2026
  • Time: Approximately 4:55 p.m.
  • Location: 5500 block of Old Cheney Highway, Orange County
  • Arrest: Jehovah Jeremiah Mitchell, 19
  • Charge: Tampering With or Fabricating Physical Evidence
  • Investigation Status: Active and ongoing
  • Community Threat: None identified by investigators

Continue Reading

Florida

Alex Vindman Calls on Ashley Moody to Support Release of Hope Florida Grand Jury Report

Published

on

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alex Vindman renewed criticism of U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody this week, calling on her to publicly support the release of the confidential Hope Florida grand jury report as questions surrounding the state’s controversial Medicaid settlement continue to draw statewide attention.

Vindman made the remarks during a Thursday news conference at the Florida Capitol alongside supporters, including a registered Republican, arguing that Florida voters deserve greater transparency regarding the Hope Florida investigation.

Vindman Launches New Campaign Website

The Vindman campaign also unveiled a new campaign website, MoodyCorruption.com, highlighting Moody’s role in the Hope Florida controversy and encouraging voters to contact public officials in support of releasing the grand jury report.

The campaign said the website was launched following recent reporting by the Miami Herald examining additional connections between Moody’s Senate campaign and the Hope Florida controversy.

Focus on Attorney General’s Role

Vindman criticized Moody’s actions while she served as Florida attorney general, pointing to the Attorney General’s Office’s approval of a $10 million Medicaid settlement transfer that later became the focus of legislative and criminal scrutiny.

According to public reporting, the settlement funds originated from a Medicaid agreement involving Centene Corp. before money was later directed through the Hope Florida Foundation and subsequently distributed to nonprofit organizations that later contributed to political committees. Investigations into the transactions have generated legislative hearings, public records litigation and criminal inquiries.

Vindman argued that the public deserves to know what conclusions, if any, a statewide grand jury reached during its investigation.

“If she has nothing to hide, she should go ahead and call for this release,” Vindman told reporters.

Grand Jury Report Remains Sealed

A central issue in the controversy is whether the final statewide grand jury report should remain confidential.

Court records indicate objections have been filed seeking to prevent or delay public release of the report. The identities of those objecting have not been publicly confirmed through court filings.

A judge is expected to determine whether the report, or portions of it, should become public.

Media Coverage Highlights

Vindman’s news conference received statewide media coverage.

WFSU reported that Vindman focused on CBS News reporting concerning Moody’s role in approving the original settlement agreement while serving as attorney general.

WUSF reported Vindman argued voters should consider the controversy as they evaluate candidates in Florida’s 2026 U.S. Senate race.

CBS Miami highlighted Vindman’s challenge for Moody to publicly support releasing the grand jury findings.

WFLA News Channel 8 reported Moody had been scheduled for an interview but that her campaign later requested to reschedule.

ABC 20 reported ongoing litigation surrounding the confidential grand jury report while covering Vindman’s criticism of Moody.

Spectrum News noted Democrats continue pressing for disclosure of the report, citing public records showing the Attorney General’s Office approved the initial transfer that later became the subject of controversy.

Moody Has Not Publicly Called for Release

As of Friday, Moody had not publicly announced support for releasing the confidential grand jury report.

The report remains under court review, and no final judicial decision has been issued regarding whether it will be released.

Why the Report Matters

Supporters of disclosure argue the public has a right to understand how taxpayer-related Medicaid settlement funds were handled and whether investigators identified misconduct or recommended reforms.

Those opposing disclosure contend grand jury secrecy protects ongoing legal interests and confidential proceedings until a court determines what may legally be released.

The court’s decision could significantly shape public understanding of one of Florida’s highest-profile political controversies as the 2026 U.S. Senate campaign continues.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement Ticket Time Machine ad
Advertisement Orlando Regional REALTOR Association logo
Advertisement Parts Pass App
Advertisement Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
Advertisement
Advertisement African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida
Advertisement FNN News en Español
Advertisement Indian American Chamber of Commerce logo
Advertisement Florida Sports Channel

FNN Newsletter

Trending