WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today praised President Bush's intention to nominate R. Thomas Weimer to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget. The announcement is subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate, once the official nomination is made by the President.

Weimer currently serves as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science. On December 3, 2004, Secretary Norton named Weimer Acting Assistant Secretary for Water and Science.

"Over the past nearly four years, Tom has been an invaluable resource for me and the entire Department," Norton said. "I rely on him for his good judgment and the many years of experience he brings to bear in his work here. I have extreme confidence in Tom Weimer's ability to effectively carry out President Bush's management agenda as Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget."

Weimer, who has 18 years of federal service, previously served at Interior as chief of staff to Secretary Manuel Lujan, Jr. He began working for Secretary Norton in July 2001.

Weimer worked on the professional staff of the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and served as a subcommittee staff director on the House Committee on Science. Before assuming his current position, he was legislative director for National Laboratory Affairs at the University of California.

He has also directed the Program Office at the National Academy of Engineering in Washington, D.C., and has worked as a technical staff member at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M., and at the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in Sunnyvale, Calif.

Weimer received bachelor's and master's degrees in systems engineering from Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, Calif., and master of electrical engineering degree from the University of Washington, Seattle. He is a registered professional engineer.