From WikipediaOn June 25, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate David Killion to be the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with the rank of Ambassador. The WH released the following official bio:
David Killion is a Senior Professional Staff member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and is the Committee’s top expert on International Organizations and State Department Operations. Mr. Killion managed the drafting of this year’s State Department Authorization Act on behalf of Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA), which passed the House on June 10th. He has also coordinated Committee initiatives to improve UN management and to reform UN human rights mechanisms. Mr. Killion served as top UN advisor to the late Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA) the previous Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee. In this capacity he worked on legislation that Mr. Lantos introduced and passed in 2001 authorizing U.S. re-entry to UNESCO. Prior to serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Killion was an appointee of the Clinton Administration in the Department of State in the bureau of Legislative Affairs (1996-2001), and as a legislative assistant to Congressman David Skaggs (D-C0) (1994-1996).
Mr. Killion holds a BA from Wesleyan University in Middletown Connecticut and an MA from the University of California at Los Angeles.
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If confirmed, Mr. Killion would replace Louise V. Oliver, a Reagan-era Republican who was appointed Permanent Representative to UNESCO by George W. Bush in 2004. The United States withdrew from UNESCO on December 31, 1984. It announced its intention to rejoin UNESCO on September 12, 2002.
- The Almanac of the Unelected 2008: Mr. Killion's biography
- President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 6-25-09
