Bush announces key nominees at Defense, other agencies

President Bush this week announced a series of appointments for high-ranking posts at the Defense Department and other agencies.

The President said he intends to nominate David S.C. Chu to be undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness. Chu is currently the vice president responsible for the Army Research Division at RAND. He served as assistant secretary of Defense for program analysis and evaluation from 1988 to 1993 and as director of program analysis and evaluation from 1981 to 1988.

Bush also said he would nominate Charles S. Abell to be assistant secretary of Defense for force management. Abell is currently astaff member at the Senate Armed Services Committee. He worked in the Army Secretary's Office of Legislative Liaison from 1989 to 1992.

At the Veterans Affairs Department, Bush said he would nominate Maureen Patricia Cragin to be assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs. Cragin is currently director of congressional relations for Navy and Marine programs at Raytheon Co.

Bush tapped Donald Burnham Ensenat to be chief of protocol at the State Department. Ensenat currently works at the law firm of Locke Liddell & Sapp in New Orleans. Bush also said he would nominate Walter Kansteiner to be assistant secretary for African affairs. Kansteiner was deputy White House press secretary for foreign affairs and director of African affairs at the National Security Council under during the first Bush administration.

The President also named David A. Sampson to be assistant secretary of Commerce for economic development. Sampson is currently the president and CEO of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce in Arlington, Texas, and chairman of the Texas Council on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness.

Finally, Bush said he would nominate Mark D. Weinberg to be assistant secretary of Housing and Urban Development for public affairs. Weinberg was manager for marketing communications and special events at the U.S. Postal Service from 1994 to 1999.