President Donald J. Trump today announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key positions in his Administration:

James Paul Gfrerer of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mr. Gfrerer served as an Executive Director with Ernst & Young (EY), LLP where he worked in the firm’s cybersecurity practice. Prior to joining the company, he served in the United States Marine Corps for over two decades and was a Department of Defense Detailee to the Department of State leading interagency portfolios in counterterrorism and cybersecurity. Mr. Gfrerer earned his B.S. in computer science from the U.S. Naval Academy and M.S. in national resource strategy from National Defense University where he was a distinguished graduate.

William Cooper of Maryland, to be General Counsel at the Department of Energy.

Mr. Cooper currently serves as Senior Counsel and Director of McConnell Valdés law firm in Washington D.C. Prior to joining McConnell Valdés, he served as Staff Director for the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources and as Senior Policy Advisor on the National Environmental Policy Act for the full committee. Mr. Cooper was also the Executive Director, and later President, of the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (CLNG) and the Counsel to the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Prior to his work in Washington, D.C., he practiced law in Tennessee.