On Nov. 5, President Donald Trump announced that he will nominate Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr. as ambassador to Australia. Culvahouse is a partner at O’Melveny & Myers LLP and served as chair of the firm from 2000 to 2012. He was counsel to President Ronald Reagan from 1987 to 1989 and, before that, was chief legislative assistant and counsel to former Republican Tennessee Senator Howard Baker.
President Trump originally nominated Harry Harris to be ambassador to Australia before deciding instead to nominate him to be ambassador to South Korea. The post in Australia has been vacant since September 2016.
The duties of the ambassador are currently being performed by career diplomat James Carouso.
