Washington, DC - Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Karen Brevard Stewart – Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Department of State
• Robert Riley – Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, Department of State  

President Obama also announced his intent to appoint the following individual to a key Administration post:

• Jaime Castillo – Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Department of Housing and Urban Development

President Obama said, “I am confident that these experienced and hardworking individuals will help us tackle the important challenges facing America, and I am grateful for their service.  I look forward to working with them.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Karen Brevard Stewart, Nominee for Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Department of State

Karen Brevard Stewart, a career member of the Foreign Service, class of Minster-Counselor, serves as Political Advisor to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and to the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, a position she has held since 2013.  Prior to that, she served as U.S. Ambassador to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic from 2010 to 2013 and in the Department of State as Special Advisor to the Director General in the Bureau of Human Resources from 2009 to 2010.  Ms. Stewart also served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor from 2008 to 2009.  She served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus from 2006 to 2008, and as Director of the Office of Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus Affairs from 2005 to 2006.  Before that, she served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Minsk, Belarus from 2002 to 2004 and at the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane, Laos from 1999 to 2001.  Her earlier assignments with the Department of State include postings in Pakistan, Thailand, Laos, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.  Ms. Stewart received a B.A. from Wellesley College and an M.S. from the National War College.

Robert Riley, Nominee for Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, Department of State

Robert Riley, a career member of the Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, serves as Management Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, a position he has held since 2013.  Previously, he served as Management Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines from 2009 to 2013, at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam from 2007 to 2009, and at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan from 2006 to 2007.  Before that, Mr. Riley served as Senior Financial Management Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq from 2005 to 2006 and at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France from 2002 to 2005.  His earlier assignments with the Department of State include postings in Spain, Cote d’Ivoire, and Malawi.  Mr. Riley earned a B.A. from Yale University.

President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individual to a key Administration post: 

Jaime Castillo, Appointee for Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Department of Housing and Urban Development

Jaime Castillo is Acting Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a position he has held since July 2015.  Mr. Castillo has served as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Secretary at HUD since July 2014.  Prior to this, he served as Chief of Staff in the Office of San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro from 2013 to 2014.  From 2009 to 2013, Mr. Castillo served as Communications Director and Senior Policy Analyst for Mayor Castro.  From 2000 to 2009, he held various positions for the San Antonio Express-News, including Metro Columnist, Political Editor, and Senior Reporter.  He was Assistant City Editor at the El Paso Times from 1999 to 2000.  Prior to that, Mr. Castillo was the Capitol Bureau Reporter and Political Writer for the San Antonio Express-News from 1996 to 1999.  Mr. Castillo received a B.A. from the University of Texas at El Paso and an M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.