The President of the United States has nominated John C. Cruden, President of the Environmental Law Institute, to become the Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, U.S. Department of Justice. "John Cruden's lifetime commitment to public service, his decades devoted to environmental law, and his outstanding record at the Justice Department make him an unparalleled choice to lead the Environment and Natural Resources Division,” said ELI Board Chair Edward L. Strohbehn, Jr. “We at ELI can attest to the great qualities he will bring to the work -- his knowledge and judgment to make good decisions and his spirit and energy to bring others together and get the job done. "This nomination is subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate. While pending confirmation, Mr. Cruden will continue to serve as President of ELI.
In its press release, the White House stated:
President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts
WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:
John C. Cruden, Nominee for Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division, Department of Justice
John C. Cruden is President of the Environmental Law Institute, a position he has held since 2011. Mr. Cruden previously served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General from 1995 to 2011 and as Chief of the Environmental Enforcement Section from 1991 to 1995 in the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Before joining DOJ, Mr. Cruden was the Chief Legislative Counsel of the Army. He completed military legal assignments as a criminal prosecutor in Germany, and served as a Staff Judge Advocate as well as Chief of the Litigation Branch in Europe. Mr. Cruden was General Counsel for the Defense Nuclear Agency and Director of Administrative and Civil Law at the Judge Advocate General’s School in Charlottesville, Virginia. Before becoming an attorney, he served in Airborne, Ranger, and Special Forces units in Germany and Vietnam. Mr. Cruden has been the President of the District of Columbia Bar Association and Chairman of the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Natural Resources. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and received an M.A. in Government and Foreign Relations from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from Santa Clara Law School.