Samuel Bodman sworn Energy Secretary

February 1, 2005 Bodman Sworn in as 11th Secretary of Energy

WASHINGTON, DC – Earlier this morning, Dr. Samuel Bodman was sworn in as the 11th Secretary of the United States Department of Energy. Secretary Bodman was confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate on Monday, January 31, 2005, replacing Spencer Abraham who resigned on November 15, 2004.

Today’s private ceremony represents Secretary Bodman’s official swearing in, beginning his first day as Energy Secretary. Secretary Bodman will be sworn in by President Bush at a later date.

“It is a great honor and personal privilege to serve President Bush and the American people as Secretary of Energy,” said Secretary Bodman. “I look forward to working with the fine men and women of the Energy Department to advance this department's critically important missions, including preserving America’s pre-eminence in the physical sciences, ensuring the responsible stewardship of our nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, advancing our international nuclear nonproliferation efforts, and ensuring reliable, secure, affordable and environmentally responsible supplies of energy for our growing economy.”

Prior to being tapped by President Bush to lead the Energy Department, Bodman served as both Deputy Secretary of the Treasury (2003-present) and Deputy Secretary of Commerce (2001-2003). Before joining the Bush Administration, Bodman was Chief Executive Officer of Boston-based Cabot Corporation and President and Chief Operating Officer of Fidelity Investments. For six years prior to joining the private sector, Secretary Bodman served as an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In nominating Secretary Bodman on December 10, 2004, President Bush said, “In academics, in business, and in government, Sam Bodman has shown himself to be a problem solver who knows how to set goals and he knows how to reach them. He will bring to the Department of Energy a great talent for management and the precise thinking of an engineer.”

Secretary Bodman holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University and a doctorate in science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Secretary Bodman is married to M. Diane Bodman. He has three children, two stepchildren and eight grandchildren.

Media contact: Mike Waldron, 202/586-4940 Number: R-05-009

Tikrit Baghdad Iraq Elections Security Forces

Tikrit’s ISF Participate in Free Iraqi Elections

Tikrit, Iraq -- One of the most impressive election-related events occurred the day before voting began for the rest of the Iraqis carving a piece of their own history.

The Soldiers of Tikrit’s 201st Iraqi Army Battalion, Iraqi National Police and the Emergency Services Unit lined up at polling sites throughout the day to cast their vote in Iraqis first free election in decades, many for the first time in their lives.

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The Iraqi Security Forces have spent the last few months preparing for the elections, rehearsing possible situations, training on their assigned weapons and conducting individual and collective training with their Task Force Danger counterparts from Task Force 1-18 Infantry.

They set the example for the rest of the area so that the polls were safe for elections and that the people of Tikrit would not yield to the empty threats of the insurgent to stay away from the polls.

elections 2

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The example the Tikrit ISF set for the people of Tikrit and their vigilance throughout the elections allowed for successful elections to be conducted without any incidents of attacks on polling sites, voters or election officials.

The elections are the culmination of Task Force 1-18 Infantry’s efforts to train, equip and inspire confidence in their Iraqi Security Forces counterparts. The message from the elections in Tikrit is clear; the people of Tikrit understand that freedom is too important to be left in the hands of terrorists.

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One Tikrit resident expressed the importance of this event by saying “being able to give my opinion on how my country should be governed is an opportunity that no one in my family has ever had, this is a great day.” (Story by Capt. Michael Prudhomme, Task Force 1-18 Infantry) Release #050131e

مواطن عراقي وهو يستعرض الحبر حول أصبعه متاكدا من أن هويته الشخصية مخفية عن الأنظار. الحبر كان على أصابع المصوتين العراقيين ليؤشر بأن على كل مواطن عراقي أن يصوت مرة واحدة أثناء الأنتخابات التي جرت يوم 30 كانون الثاني 2005. الصورة ماتقطة من قبل رئيس عرفاء ديف الشويد 050130-ف-1631ا-029 . نشرت.

مواطنين عراقيين وهم يقفون في طابور الأقتراع في بغداد، العراق يوم 30 كانون الثاني 2005 . صورة القوة الجوية الأمريكية ألتقطت من قبل رئيس عرفاء ديف الشويد 050130-ف-1631ا-008 . نشرت