Posted: 12:10 am EDT
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On April 30, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Gayle Smith as the next USAID Administrator:
“Today, I am proud to nominate Gayle E. Smith as our next Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). I’ve worked closely with Gayle for nearly a decade, and for the past six years Gayle has served as a senior leader on international development, humanitarian crisis response, and democracy issues on my National Security Council staff. Gayle’s energy and passion have been instrumental in guiding America’s international development policy, responding to a record number of humanitarian crises worldwide, and ensuring that development remains at the forefront of the national security agenda at a time when USAID is more indispensable than ever. Gayle has my full confidence and I have no doubt that she will prove to be an outstanding leader for the tireless men and women of USAID as they work to improve lives around the world. I urge the Senate to act quickly on this nomination.”
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President Obama is nominating Gayle Smith as the next Administrator of @USAID → http://t.co/KHE9mjibLa pic.twitter.com/grYtVXlemg
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 30, 2015
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On behalf of @theIRC, I’m pleased to see Gayle Smith has been nominated to take the helm at @USAID. (1/2)
— David Miliband (@DMiliband) May 1, 2015
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If you know #GayleSmith, then you know this is a fitting statement of support from #Bono & the @ONECampaign: http://t.co/8MB5CVpOcA
— Caitlin Hayden (@CaitlinHayden) April 30, 2015
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Can Gayle Smith secure #USAID‘s future? http://t.co/8bVLa9xxXD @enoughproject @ModernizeAid #reform4results pic.twitter.com/7fnjiVfac0
— Devex (@devex) May 1, 2015
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Did US support so-called “renaissance” group of African leaders? A denial from Gayle Smith + my response. min. 42:20 http://t.co/T9ZSHI3vsa
— Howard French (@hofrench) April 30, 2015
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Gayle Smith, nominee to head of USAID, has been a disasterbacle in Africa policy since the “Renaissance Leaders” era. http://t.co/o21rvKhv2S
— Howard French (@hofrench) April 30, 2015
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Just watched this 85m @hofrench & Gayle Smith discussion, & not yet sure what to think of her appt to USAID admin… http://t.co/ZvoYpWYTXT
— Mike Miesen (@MikeMiesen) May 1, 2015
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Nomination of Gayle Smith for USAID is rankling Africa watchers http://t.co/KBd6LwUB8l
— William Easterly (@bill_easterly) May 4, 2015
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Click here for a discussion on Africa via CSPAN featuring Ms. Smith, and Howard French, a veteran journalist and author, who reported from Africa for several years.
The WH released the following brief bio:
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