WASHINGTON, D.C. -Interior Secretary Gale Norton today announced that President George W. Bush intends to nominate David Longly Bernhardt as Solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior. The position is subject to confirmation by the United States Senate once the official nomination is made by the President.

"David Bernhardt has served at Interior as one of my most trusted advisors handling some of the more complex legal issues facing the Department," said Norton. "David is a sound manager who has been a tremendous asset to this administration. His grasp of legal details and his understanding of the work of the Department gives me every confidence in his nomination."

Currently Bernhardt is serving as deputy solicitor. Previously he served Secretary Norton as deputy chief of staff and counselor to the Secretary and as director of congressional and legislative affairs and counselor to the Secretary.

Before joining Interior, Bernhardt was an associate with the law firm of Brownstein Hyatt and Farber, P.C. (1998 to 2001). He was Rules Committee Associate/Legal Counsel from 1994 to 1998 for Congressman Scott McInnis and prior to that was a legislative assistant to the congressman.

Bernhardt earned a B.A. in political science with a minor in business administration from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley in 1990. He graduated with honors from the George Washington University National Law Center in 1994 and was admitted to the Colorado Bar that same year.

A native of Rifle, Colorado, Bernhardt is married and has two children, William and Katherine.

The Solicitor is the General Counsel for the Department of the Interior and represents the Department in administrative and judicial litigation and in meetings, negotiations, and other contracts with Congress, federal agencies, states, tribes and the public.