Appointments September 9, 2009

• President Barack Obama nominated Barbara Bennett to become the chief financial officer of the Environmental Protection Agency. Bennett is a former senior executive vice president and CFO of Discovery Communications. She has worked as a consultant since 2007, and has served on the board of the National Rehabilitation Hospital and directs the investment committee of Presbyterian Homes & Family Services.

• Michael Punke has been nominated for deputy trade representative, Geneva, in the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Punke previously worked at USTR as a senior policy adviser from 1995 to 1996. Prior to that, he was international trade counsel to Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), who was then the chairman of the Finance Committee’s International Trade subcommittee. For the past six years, Punke has advised clients on trade issues through Michael Punke Consulting in Missoula, Mont.
 
• Ron Bloom is the administration’s new senior counselor for manufacturing policy, also known as the manufacturing czar. Bloom also retains his role as senior adviser to the Treasury secretary on the auto task force. As czar, Bloom will work closely with the National Economic Council.

• Obama nominated Cynthia Quarterman to be the administrator of Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety at the Transportation Department. Quarterman is a partner in the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson. She has also served as a director of the Minerals Management Service within the Interior Department.

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