administrator born february united_states ambassador australia director born maryland parents worked federal government completed degrees worked local government legislative aide state government worked legislative director representative held posts interior worked director nominated president barack_obama director took office confirmed united_states senate april june president obama nominated replace ambassador australia confirmed unanimous consent senate august early life education born february maryland united_states father served marine_corps mother worked brother sister graduated high school finished bachelor_of_arts government politics graduated master public administration career served management government staff director legislative director representative associate employment issues federal government played leading role negotiations led established locality pay system served deputy assistant secretary acting assistant secretary worked director government relations senior policy advisor appointed assistant secretary interior clinton administration serving improved credit union continuing education options oversaw expansion department programs improve employees work life balance held town hall meetings interior employees suggestions upgrade health center changes partly funded partnerships federal employees unions agencies reduce costs department worked create complaint procedure employees experience discrimination sexual orientation expand relocation benefits counseling services domestic partners employees establish liaison gay lesbian workers eliminate provisions national_park_service law enforcement standards helped establish office supply store interior employees staffed disabled workers oversaw largest budgetary increases department history director worked interior inspector general reconcile years financial records improve management conserve wildlife habitat public private partnerships appointed october serve director found shortcomings record keeping maintenance created strategic planning modernization process zoo included year capital plan securing million funding provide fire protection beginning renovations animal houses mountain named honor mentioned possible nominee secretary interior position obtained president barack_obama announced intention nominate director march march nomination hearing march led expectation easy confirmation despite opposition conservative activists based homosexuality hearing stated supported effective employee compensation system federal government obligation employees comparable job performances similar pay treatment pledged preserve veterans preference supplement training programs prepare veterans federal jobs promised reviews proposals improve security clearance hiring processes emphasized importance agencies use recruitment tools citing relocation benefits agencies competitive private sector stated create strategic plan set performance goals stated support benefits sex partners federal employees repeal senate confirmed april sworn april agency director obama administration senior staff place ceremonial swearing april attended lady according highest ranking openly gay official serve executive branch administration ambassador australia june president obama nominated ambassador australia openly gay ambassador nation august united_states senate confirmed unanimous consent australian media coverage appointment overwhelmingly positive video posted embassy website described introduction video diplomatic history described modest impressive record reported people posted responses video warm personal life appointed ambassador lived washington openly gay august married curtis partner years washington
John Berry (administrator)