Officially In: Philip S. Goldberg to INR

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On October 23 President Obama announced his intent to nominate Philip S. Goldberg to be Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR). The WH released the following official bio:

Philip S. Goldberg, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, is the United States Coordinator for Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions on North Korea. Mr. Goldberg has served as Ambassador to Bolivia; Chief of Mission in Kosovo and Charge d’affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission in Chile. He is currently coordinating implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874, an assignment he will continue pending confirmation by the Senate when a successor will be designated. His earlier assignments include: acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs; Executive Assistant and Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State; Bosnia Desk Officer and member of US delegation at Dayton Peace Negotiations; Political-Economic Officer in South Africa, and Consular and Political officer in Colombia. Mr. Goldberg is a graduate of Boston University.

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If his name sounds familiar, that’s because he was in the news a lot last year. President George W. Bush nominated Philip S. Goldberg as Ambassador to Bolivia and his nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 3, 2006. On September 10, 2008, the Bolivian Government expelled Ambassador Goldberg, after declaring him Persona Non Grata.

As an aside -- there is a long list of alphabet soup at the State Department. But the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) is one of the dozen or so offices that reports directly to the Secretary. According to the Historian’s Office, An Act of Congress (P.L. 99-93) of Aug 16, 1985, authorized the appointment of an Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research. Prior to this date, the Secretary of State designated all Directors of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research. Since Aug 1986, all incumbents have served as Assistant Secretaries of State and been commissioned by the President. If confirmed Ambassador Goldberg would succeed, Randall M. Fort who was appointed A/S of the INR Bureau from 2006-2009. Previous appointees to this position are listed here.

Related Item: President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 10/23/09