President Obama announced today that he has tapped Catherine Novelli, VP of Worldwide Government Affaris for Apple to fill a position in the State Department. Novelli has been Apple’s top lobbyist since 2007 but is set to serve as Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment.

Although the nomination still has to be approved, it sounds like the president is confident Novelli and the other nominees will be joining his administration his soon:

“It gives me great confidence that such dedicated and capable individuals have agreed to join this Administration to serve the American people. I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”

This won’t be Novelli’s first stint in a government post. She served at the Office of the United States Trade Representative from 1997 to 2005 as the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Mediterranean in the Bush Administration, and in the Office of the General Counsel at the Department of Commerce from 1985 to 1991. Before joining Apple in 2007, Novelli was a partner at Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, LLP from 2005-2007.

Source: White House

Via: AllThingsD