Gay men named ambassadors to Australia, Dominican Republic

Gay men named ambassadors to Australia, Dominican Republic

June 21, 2013 / Denis Dison / Uncategorized

John Berry, the former director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, has been nominated by President Barack Obama to become the next ambassador to Australia.
“We’re thrilled for our friend John, who served so ably at OPM.  He’s an extraordinarily capable and dedicated public servant, and I expect he will be a huge asset to the president in strengthening America’s ties with our ally, Australia,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund and Institute.
Obama also nominated James “Wally” Brewster, Jr., to be ambassador to the Dominican Republic.  ”Wally has been an outstanding champion for LGBT equality and for the democratic principles that make America a beacon of hope for the world.  I congratulate him on this high honor,” said Wolfe.
According to a White House press release, Berry served as the Director of the Office of Personnel Management from April 2009 to April 2013.  Previously, he was the Director of the Smithsonian National Zoological Park from 2005 to 2009, and the Executive Director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation from 2000 to 2005.  From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Berry served as Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management, and Budget at the Department of the Interior.  From 1995 to 1997, he was Director of Government Relations and Senior Policy Advisor at the Smithsonian Institution.  He joined the federal government in 1994 as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Law Enforcement at the Department of Treasury.  Before joining the Department of Treasury, Mr. Berry was the Legislative Director for U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer.  Mr. Berry received a B.A. From the University of Maryland, College Park and an M.P.A. From Syracuse University.
Brewster is the Senior Managing Partner for SB&K Global, a brand strategy and consumer dynamics consulting firm based in Chicago, Illinois.  Before starting SB&K Global in 2010, he was an Officer and Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications with General Growth Properties (GGP), a real estate investment trust headquartered in Chicago.  Prior to joining GGP in 1996, Mr. Brewster worked in management at several real estate companies in Texas, including The Rouse Company and the DeBartolo Corporation.  Earlier in his career, he held marketing and management positions with Carla Francis, Inc. And the Jim Collins Company in Dallas, Texas.  Mr. Brewster is a National LGBT Co-Chair for the Democratic National Committee and currently serves on the Board of the Human Rights Campaign Fund.