Senator Durbin: Senate Confirms Lamont for Army Assistant Secretary

May 18, 2009 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama’s choice to be Assistant Secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs within the Department of the Army, Tom Lamont, was confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate earlier this evening.

“With years of experience in the Illinois Army National Guard, Tom Lamont has a deep understanding of the needs of the Army,” said Durbin. “He is a dedicated public servant with exceptional knowledge and expertise in both the legal and legislative processes. President Obama made the right choice when he nominated Tom for this position and I look forward to working with him in the future.”

Lamont served as a colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard, Office of the Judge Advocate General. He retired after twenty-five years of service in 2007. He is also a longtime Springfield attorney and partner at Gordon & Glickson and Altheimer & Gray, and the Springfield firm of Brown, Hay & Stephens. He concentrated his practice in Government Law and Legislative Affairs. In the public arena, Lamont has served as Executive Director of the Office of the State Attorney Appellate Prosecutor, Director of Civil Litigation in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, Executive Director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, and currently, as Special Counsel to the University of Illinois.

Lamont received his bachelor's degree from Illinois State University in 1969 and earned his law degree from the University of Illinois, College of Law in 1972. In 1990, Lamont was elected to the University of Illinois, Board of Trustees. He has served as a trustee of the State University Retirement System, a member of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, and the U.S. Senate Judicial Nomination Commission.

Source: Senator Dick Durbin