Nominations
The Nominations Process
Committee Responsibilities
Understanding the Matrix
In 2015, Commerce Committee chairman Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) began the practice of publicly posting on the Committee’s website the non-confidential portions of questionnaires of nominees referred to the Commerce Committee as well as responses to post-confirmation hearing questions for the record. These public postings do not include some confidential personal financial details that are reviewed by the committee. This matrix is intended to further Sen. Thune’s efforts to improve the transparency of the confirmation process. It includes and organizes positions by department and agency, discloses completed questionnaires, and indicates whether steps in the confirmation process have been completed.
The “status” category in the matrix explained:
“Confirmed” – the listed official has been confirmed by the Senate and has not made a public announcement of plans to leave office.
“Replacement” – the position has an occupant who has announced an intention to leave office. The listed official is the new nominee, not the current occupant.
“Reappointment” – an official, whose term is expiring before or separate from the end of an administration, has been re-nominated for another term.
“Submitted”– the position does not have a current confirmed occupant, but the president has named a nominee who is under consideration.
“Vacant” – the position does not have a current confirmed occupant and the president has not submitted a nomination under consideration.
“Vacating” – the position has an occupant who has announced an intention to leave office but a replacement has not been nominated.
"Term Expired" – indicates an official’s term has expired but he is allowed to remain in office for a period of time or until replaced. Individuals nominated to independent commissions and boards under the Committee’s jurisdiction serve for terms that may expire during or transcend through presidential administrations.
NOTE: The nominations matrix is updated as the Committee receives and processes documents.
Position | Nominee | Status | Completed Initial Questionnaire | Hearing | Post Hearing Question Responses | Committee Vote | Senate Floor Vote |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Department of Commerce | |||||||
Secretary of Commerce | Wilbur Ross | Click here | |||||
Deputy Secretary of Commerce | Todd Ricketts | ||||||
Under Secretary-Economic Affairs | Vacant | ||||||
Under Secretary-Standards and Technology/Director-National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) | Willie May | Vacating | Click here | Voice (3/25/15) | 93-0 (5/4/15) | ||
Under Secretary-Oceans and Atmosphere/Administrator-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) | Kathryn Sullivan | Vacating | 9/19/13 | Voice (1/13/14) | Voice (3/6/14) | ||
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration | Ellen Herbst | Vacating | Voice (8/1/13) | ||||
Assistant Secretary-Communications and Information | Lawrence Strickling | Vacating | Voice (5/20/09) | Voice (6/29/09 | |||
Assistant Secretary-Legislative Affairs | Steven Haro | Vacating | Click here | Voice (12/16/15) | |||
Assistant Secretary-Global Markets/Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service | Arun Kumar | Vacating | 11/21/13 | Voice (1/13/14) | Voice (3/13/14) | ||
Assistant Secretary-Industry and Analysis | Marcus Jadotte | Vacating | 6/11/14 | Voice (7/15/14) | 53-42 (12/13/14) | ||
Assistant Secretary-Conservation and Management/Deputy Administrator-NOAA | Mark Schaefer | Vacating | 7/24/13 | Voice (7/30/13) | Voice (8/1/13) | ||
Assistant Secretary-Environmental Observation and Prediction-NOAA | Manson Brown | Vacating | Click here | Voice (2/26/15) | Voice (3/16/15) | ||
General Counsel | Kelly Welsh | Vacating | Voice (3/31/14) | ||||
Inspector General | Peg Gustafson | Confirmed | 5/10/16 | Click here | |||
Department of Transportation | |||||||
Secretary of Transportation | Elaine Chao | Click here | |||||
Deputy Secretary | Victor Mendez | Vacating | 6/11/14 | Voice (7/15/14) | Voice (7/24/14) | ||
Under Secretary-Policy | Blair Anderson | Vacating | Click here | Click here | Voice (6/15/16) | Voice (7/14/16) | |
Assistant Secretary-Aviation and International Affairs | Vacant | ||||||
Assistant Secretary-Governmental Affairs | Dana Gresham | Vacating | 4/21/09 | Voice (4/23/09) | Voice (4/29/09) | ||
Assistant Secretary-Transportation Policy | Carlos Monje | Vacating | Click here | 12/3/14 | Voice (2/26/15) | 94-0 (3/16/15) | |
Assistant Secretary-Research and Technology | Greg Winfree | Vacating | Voice 9/19/13) | Voice (10/16/13) | |||
Assistant Secretary-Budget/Chief Financial Officer | Shoshana Lew | Vacating | Click here | Voice (12/18/15) | |||
Administrator-Federal Aviation Administration | Michael Huerta | Confirmed | 6/21/12 | Voice (7/31/12) | Voice (1/1/13) | ||
Administrator-Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration | T.F. Scott Darling, III | Vacating | Click here | 1/20/16 | Click here | Voice (3/3/16) | Voice (7/14/16) |
Administrator-Federal Railroad Administration | Sarah Feinberg | Vacating | Click here | 9/17/15 | Click here | 19-1 (10/27/15) | Voice (10/28/15) |
Administrator-Maritime Administration (MARAD) | Paul Jaenichen | Vacating | 11/21/13 | Voice (1/13/14) | Voice (7/15/14) | ||
Administrator-National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | Mark Rosekind | Vacating | 12/3/14 | Voice (12/9/14) | Voice (12/16/14) | ||
Administrator-Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration | Marie Therese Dominguez | Vacating | Click here | 7/22/15 | Click here | Voice (8/5/15) | |
General Counsel | Vacant | ||||||
Inspector General | Calvin Scovel | Confirmed | 9/21/06 | Voice (9/27/06) | Voice (9/29/06) | ||
National Aeronautics and Space Administration | |||||||
Administrator | Charles Bolden | Vacating | Voice (7/15/09) | ||||
Deputy Administrator | Dava Newman | Vacating | Click here | Voice (3/25/15) | 87-0 (4/27/15) | ||
Chief Financial Officer | David Radzanowski | Vacating | Voice (9/11/14) | ||||
Inspector General | Paul Martin | Confirmed | 10/15/09 | Voice (10/27/09) | Voice (11/20/09) | ||
Department of Homeland Security | |||||||
Assistant Secretary/Administrator-Transportation Security Administration | Peter Neffenger | Confirmed | Click here | 5/21/15 | Click here | Voice (6/4/15) | 81-1 (6/22/15) |
Commandant-U.S. Coast Guard | Adm. Paul Zukunft | Confirmed | 4/8/14 | Voice (5/14/14) | |||
Vice Commandant-U.S. Coast Guard | Adm. Charles Michel | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (4/27/16) | Voice (5/18/16) | ||
Vice Admiral | Adm. Sandra Stosz | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (5/20/15) | Voice (5/31/15) | ||
Vice Admiral |
Adm. Karl Schultz | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (3/16/16) | Voice (3/17/16) | ||
Vice Admiral | Adm. Fred Midgette | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (6/15/16) | Voice (6/29/16) | ||
Vice Admiral | Adm. Charles Ray | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (4/27/16) | Voice (5/18/16) | ||
Vice Admiral | Adm. Marshall Lytle III | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (6/15/16) | Voice (6/29/16) | ||
Rear Admiral | Adm. Peter Brown | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (11/18/15) | Voice (11/30/15) | ||
Rear Admiral | Adm. Scott Buschman | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (11/18/15) | Voice (11/30/15) | ||
Rear Admiral | Adm. Michael McAllister | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (11/18/15) | Voice (11/30/15) | ||
Rear Admiral | Adm. June Ryan | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (11/18/15) | Voice (11/30/15) | ||
Rear Admiral | Adm. Joseph Vojdovich | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (11/18/15) | Voice (11/30/15) | ||
Rear Admiral | Adm. Kurt Hinrichs | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (11/18/15) | Voice (11/30/15) | ||
Rear Admiral | Adm. Francis Pelkowski | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (3/3/16) | Voice (3/10/16) | ||
Rear Admiral | Adm. Meredith L. Austin | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (4/27/16) | Voice (5/18/16) | ||
Rear Admiral | Adm. Todd A. Sokalzuk | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (4/27/16) | Voice (5/18/16) | ||
Rear Admiral | Adm. Peter W. Gautier | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (4/27/16) | Voice (5/18/16) | ||
Rear Admiral | Adm. Kevin K. Lunday | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (4/27/16) | Voice (5/18/16) | ||
Rear Admiral | Adm. Paul F. Thomas | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (4/27/16) | Voice (5/18/16) | ||
Rear Admiral | Adm. James Heinz | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (4/27/16) | Voice (5/18/16) | ||
Rear Admiral | Adm. Michael Haycock | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (4/27/16) | Voice (5/18/16) | ||
Rear Admiral (Lower Half) | Capt. Matthew Bell | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (11/18/15) | Voice (11/19/15) | ||
Rear Admiral (Lower Half) | Capt. Melissa Bert | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (11/18/15) | Voice (11/19/15) | ||
Rear Admiral (Lower Half) | Capt. David Dermanelian | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (11/18/15) | Voice (11/19/15) | ||
Rear Admiral (Lower Half) | Capt. Robert Hayes | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (11/18/15) | Voice (11/19/15) | ||
Rear Admiral (Lower Half) | Capt. Andrew Tiongson | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (11/18/15) | Voice (11/19/15) | ||
Rear Admiral (Lower Half) | Capt. Anthony Vogt | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (11/18/15) | Voice (11/19/15) | ||
Rear Admiral (Lower Half) | Capt. Andrew McKinley | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (11/18/15) | Voice (11/19/15) | ||
Rear Admiral (Lower Half) | Capt. Melvin Bouboulis | Nominated | Click here | ||||
Rear Admiral (Lower Half) | Capt. Donna Cottrell | Nominated | Click here | ||||
Rear Admiral (Lower Half) | Capt. Michael Johnston | Nominated | Click here | ||||
Rear Admiral (Lower Half) | Capt. Eric Jones | Nominated | Click here | ||||
Rear Admiral (Lower Half) | Capt. Ryan Michael | Nominated | Click here | ||||
Federal Communications Commission | |||||||
Chairman | Tom Wheeler | Vacating | 6/18/13 | Voice (7/30/13) | Voice (10/29/13) | ||
Commissioner | Mignon Clyburn | Confirmed | 12/4/12 | Voice (1/1/13) | |||
Commissioner | Jessica Rosenworcel | Reappointment | Click here | 10/28/15 | Click here | Voice (12/9/15) | |
Commissioner | Ajit Pai | Confirmed | 11/30/11 | Voice (12/8/11) | Voice (5/7/12) | ||
Commissioner | Mike O'Rielly | Confirmed | Voice (12/16/14) | ||||
Federal Trade Commission | |||||||
Chairwoman | Edith Ramirez | Reappointment | Click here | ||||
Commissioner | Vacant | ||||||
Commissioner | Maureen Ohlhausen | Confirmed | 11/15/11 | Voice (12/8/11) | Voice (3/29/12) | ||
Commissioner | Terrell McSweeny | Confirmed | 9/18/13 | Voice (1/13/14) | 95-1 (4/9/14) | ||
Commissioner | Vacant | ||||||
Consumer Product Safety Commission | |||||||
Chairman | Elliot Kaye | Confirmed | 4/8/14 | Voice (7/15/14) | Voice (7/28/14) | ||
Commissioner | Robert Adler | Confirmed | 6/11/14 | Voice (7/15/14) | 53-44 (12/2/14) | ||
Commissioner | Ann Marie Buerkle | Confirmed | Voice (6/27/13) | ||||
Commissioner | Joseph Mohorovic | Confirmed | 4/8/14 | Voice (7/15/14) | Voice (7/28/14) | ||
Commissioner | Marietta Robinson | Confirmed | 5/10/12 | Voice (6/27/13) | |||
National Transportation Safety Board | |||||||
Chairman | Christopher Hart | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (2/26/15) | 97-0 (3/12/15) | ||
Member | T. Bella Dinh-Zarr | Confirmed | Click here | 12/3/14 | Voice (2/26/15) | Voice (3/12/15) | |
Member | Robert Sumwalt | Confirmed | Voice (11/2/11) | Voice (11/18/11) | |||
Member | Earl Weener | Confirmed | Voice (6/17/10) | Voice (6/22/10) | |||
Member | Vacant | ||||||
Federal Maritime Commission | |||||||
Chairman | Mario Cordero | Confirmed | Click here | 5/6/15 | Click here | Voice (5/20/15) | Voice (10/8/2015) |
Commissioner | Rebecca Dye | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (6/15/16) | Voice (6/29/16) | ||
Commissioner | Daniel Maffei | Confirmed | Click here | Click here | Voice (3/30/16) | Voice (6/29/16) | |
Commissioner | Michael Khouri | Confirmed | Click here | 12/15/09 | Voice (6/29/16) | Voice (6/29/16) | |
Commissioner | William Doyle | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (2/26/15) | 89-0 (3/23/15) | ||
Surface Transportation Board | |||||||
Chairman | Daniel Elliott III | Confirmed | Click here | 5/6/15 | Click here | Voice (5/20/15) | Voice (6/22/15) |
Member | Ann Begeman | Confirmed | Click here | ||||
Member | Deb Miller | Confirmed | 11/21/13 | Voice (1/13/14) | Voice (4/9/14) | ||
Member | Vacant | ||||||
Member | Vacant | ||||||
Corporation for Public Broadcasting Board of Directors | |||||||
Member | Elizabeth Sembler | Confirmed | Voice (7/15/14) | Voice (9/11/14) | |||
Chair | Loretta Sutliff | Confirmed | Voice (7/30/13) | Voice (8/1/13) | |||
Member | David Arroyo | Reappointment | |||||
Member | Patricia Cahill | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (3/25/15) | Voice (5/21/15) | ||
Member | Jannette Dates | Reappointment | Click here | ||||
Member | Judith Davenport | Confirmed | Voice (7/15/14) | Voice (9/11/14) | |||
Member | Howard Husock | Confirmed | Voice (7/30/13) | Voice (8/1/13) | |||
Member | Brent Nelsen | Reappointment | Click here | ||||
Vice-Chair | Bruce Ramer | Confirmed | Voice (7/30/13) | Voice (8/1/13) | |||
AMTRAK Board | |||||||
Chairman | Anthony Coscia | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (11/18/15) | Voice (12/15/15) | ||
Director | Yvonne Brathwaite Burke | Confirmed | Voice (1/1/13) | ||||
Director | Thomas Carper | Confirmed | Voice (7/30/13) | Voice (8/1/13) | |||
Director | Christopher Beall | Confirmed | Voice (1/1/13) | ||||
Director | Albert DiClemente | Confirmed | 11/18/09 | Voice (12/3/09) | Voice (6/22/10) | ||
Director | Jeffrey Moreland | Confirmed | 3/18/10 | Voice (3/24/10) | Voice (6/22/10) | ||
Director | Derek Kan | Confirmed | Click here | Voice (11/18/15) | Voice (12/15/15) | ||
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority | |||||||
Member | William McDermott | Confirmed | Voice (1/1/13) | ||||
Member | Nina Wells | Confirmed | Voice (1/1/13) | ||||
Member | Richard Kennedy | Confirmed | Voice (7/30/14) | ||||
Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation Advisory Board | |||||||
Chairman | David McMillan | Confirmed | Voice (3/29/12) | ||||
Member | William Mielke | Confirmed | Voice (1/1/13) | ||||
Member | Wenona Singel | Confirmed | Voice (3/29/12) | ||||
Member | Arthur Sulzer | Confirmed | Voice (8/2/12) | ||||
Member | Anthony Collins | Submitted | |||||
Marine Mammal Commission | |||||||
Chairman | Andrew Read | Submitted | Click here | Voice (4/27/16) | |||
Commissioner | Michael Tillman | Confirmed | 3/18/10 | Voice (3/24/10) | Voice (6/22/10) | ||
Commissioner | Frances Gulland | Confirmed | 3/10/11 | Voice (3/17/11) | Voice (4/14/11) |