WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2008 – Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today named Douglas L. Faulkner Acting Under Secretary for Rural Development, following the December 1 resignation of Thomas C. Dorr. Faulkner was appointed Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development in June 2006.

"I am pleased that Doug has stepped up to lead Rural Development, providing continuity with his highly-qualified expertise to serve the needs of rural communities," said Schafer. "His work in directing and developing Rural Development initiatives has led to job creation and opportunities for people in small towns throughout America."

Faulkner has served the Bush Administration since 2001 as both Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and later Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. He has worked for over a decade to promote the growth of the bioenergy, solar, wind, geothermal, hydrogen fuel cell, efficient energy technologies and other new energy markets.

In his nearly thirty year federal career, Mr. Faulkner has held a number of assignments at the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Energy, where he served as a senior policy adviser to two Secretaries of Energy and received current Energy Secretary Bodman's personal award for excellence.

Faulkner received a B.A. degree in Asian Studies from the University of Illinois and a M.A. degree from The Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies. He also attended the University of Singapore as a Rotary Scholar. He played intercollegiate basketball at home and abroad.

Born and raised in Central Illinois, Acting Under Secretary Faulkner now lives in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife and son.