Washington:
US President Barack Obama has nominated Robert Blake, his point man for South and Central Asia, as the new Ambassador to Indonesia.
Blake's nomination comes weeks after Obama nominated Nisha Desai Biswal as the new Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia. Obama announced nominations of six other ambassadorial positions yesterday, in addition to that of Blake.
"I am grateful that these impressive individuals have chosen to dedicate their talents to serving the American people at this important time for our country," Obama said in a statement.
"I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead," he said.
A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Blake had previously served as the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives from 2006 to 2009, after which he was appointed as the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.
Prior to that, Blake served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in New Delhi, from 2003 to 2006.
His previous assignments included, Executive Assistant to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs from 2001 to 2003, Deputy Executive Secretary from 2000 to 2001, and the Turkey Desk Officer from 1998 to 2000.
Overseas assignments include, Head of the Political Section at the US Embassy Tunis, Tunisia from 1995 to 1998 and Economic Officer at the US Embassy in Algiers, Algeria from 1993 to 1994.
He received a B A from Harvard College and an M A from John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
