President Barack Obama today announced the designation of Harry K. Thomas Jr. and David Adelman as the new US ambassadors to the Philippines and Singapore respectively.

The announcement came soon after Obama made his first visits to Asia, including a meeting with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Thomas, a senior diplomat at the US State Department, replaces Kristie Kenney and will become the Philippines’ first African-American US ambassador.  Adelman, meanwhile, will replace Patricia Herbold.

If confirmed by the US Senate, Thomas would be US envoy at a crucial time for the Philippines when it elects a new president and a whole slew of national and local officials in May 2010.

Thomas also faces renewed calls for the abolition of the US-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement which critics says has been used as a license for permanent US military presence in the Philippines which is banned under the Constitution.

Thomas

The White House describes Thomas as “a career member of the Senior Foreign Service”.

Thomas served most recently as director general of the Foreign Service and director of Human Resources at the US State Department, where he also served as special assistant to the Secretary and as executive secretary of the Department.

When President George W. Bush launched the US-led war on terrorism, Thomas was Director for South Asia at the National Security Council (2001 to 2002).

Thomas was appointed later as US ambassador to Bangladesh from 2003 to 2005.

He has also worked in several US diplomatic posts, including New Delhi, India; Harare, Zimbabwe; Kaduna, Nigeria; and Lima, Peru.

Adelman

The White House said that Adelman was a state senator of Georgia since 2002 and has served as the chamber’s minority whip and chairman of the urban affairs committee.  

He represented energy and communications companies  as lawyer and equity partner in the firm Sutherland Asbill and Brennan LLP.  

Adelman also served as Assistant Attorney General in Georgia, and as pro bono lawyer for US veterans.