On June 11, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Mark Gitenstein to be Ambassador to Romania. Official bio released by the WH below:
Mr. Gitenstein is a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, where he specializes in issues related to national security and civil liberties. He is also a partner at the Washington office of the multi-national firm Mayer Brown LLP. Prior to his work at Mayer Brown, Mr. Gitenstein was the Executive Director of The Foundation for Change Inc. Previously, Mr. Gitenstein worked as a Senate staff member for 17 years— both in Senator Biden’s personal office, and then as Chief Counsel with the Senate Judiciary Committee. He is the author of Matters of Principle, an award winning book on his experience managing the Judiciary Committee staff during the confirmation battle over the nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court in 1987.
Mr. Gitenstein holds a B.A. from Duke University and a J.D. from Georgetown University.
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Mr. Gitenstein was named an Advisory Board member of the Obama-Biden Transition Team in November 2008. OpenSecrets.org has included Mr. Gitenstein in its Revolving Door profile.
If confirmed, Mr. Gitenstein would replaced Nicholas F. Taubman, a political appointee who was US Ambassador to Romania during George W. Bush's second term (2005-2008).
- President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 6-11-09
- Brookings: Biography of Mark Gitenstein, Nonresident Senior Fellow
- OpenSecrets.org from Center for Responsive Politics: Obama_ambassador_Data_090612.xls (Excel file)
- Obama's New Ambassador Nominees Gave Big -- and Bundled Bigger
