WASHINGTON, DC - Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today announced the swearing-in of R. Thomas Weimer as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget. President Bush announced his intention to nominate Weimer to the post on May 2, 2005. The nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 21st.

Weimer has most recently served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science and was named Acting Assistant Secretary for Water and Science in December of 2004.

"Tom Weimer possesses a unique combination of leadership and management experience and a commitment to public service," Secretary Norton said today. "I am confident in his ability to further advance the President's agenda of management excellence at the Department of the Interior."

Weimer has 18 years of federal experience, previously serving at Interior as chief of staff to Secretary Manuel Lujan, Jr. He began his work with 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 returning to Interior in 2001, 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 a master of electrical engineering degree from the University of Washington, Seattle. He is a registered professional engineer.