Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources
In office 1990–1994
Governor
Roy Romer
Preceded by
Hamlet Barry
Succeeded by
James Lochhead
Personal details
Born
Kenneth Lee Salazar
(1955-03-02) March 2, 1955 (age 69) Alamosa, Colorado, U.S.
Political party
Democratic
Spouse
Hope Hernandez
Children
2
Relatives
John Salazar (brother)
Education
Colorado College (BA) University of Michigan (JD)
Occupation
Lawyer
politician
diplomat
Signature
Ken Salazar's voice
Secretary Ken Salazar responds to questions from Senator Bob Menendez at a Senate Energy Committee hearing Recorded March 17, 2009
Kenneth Lee Salazar (born March 2, 1955) is an American lawyer, politician, and diplomat who is the United States ambassador to Mexico. He previously served as the 50th United States Secretary of the Interior in the administration of President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously was a United States Senator from Colorado from 2005 to 2009. He and Mel Martínez (R-Florida) were the first Hispanic U.S. senators since 1977; they were joined by Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey) in 2006. Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate, he served as Attorney General of Colorado from 1999 to 2005.
On December 17, 2008, President-elect Obama announced he would nominate Salazar as U.S. secretary of the interior. The environmentalist movement's[vague] reaction to this nomination was mixed.[1][2] Previously, Salazar supported the nomination of Gale Norton to Secretary of the Interior,[3] President George W. Bush's first appointee who preceded Salazar as Colorado Attorney General. On January 20, 2009, Salazar was confirmed by unanimous consent in the Senate.
On January 16, 2013, it was reported that Salazar planned to resign his post as Secretary of the Interior in March 2013, but his resignation was delayed pending Senate confirmation of his successor, Sally Jewell.[4][5][6] On June 10, 2013, he became a partner in the major international law firm of WilmerHale, and was tasked with opening a Denver office for the firm.[7] On August 16, 2016, Salazar was appointed to head presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's transition team.[8]
In May 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Salazar as the United States ambassador to Mexico.[9][10][11] His nomination was confirmed by a voice vote in the United States Senate on August 11, 2021.[12]
^Brady, Jeff (December 16, 2008). "Environmentalists Fuming Over Salazar's New Post". National Public Radio.
^Broder, Jim M. (December 17, 2008). "Environmentalists Wary of Obama's Interior Pick". The New York Times.
^"Industry likes Salazar at Obama Interior, not greens". Retrieved August 3, 2020.[dead link]
^"AP Source: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Leaving". time.com. January 16, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2013.[dead link]
^"AP Source: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to leave administration in March". salon.com. January 16, 2013. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
^"AP source: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar leaving". news.yahoo.com. January 16, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
^Lynn Bartels (June 5, 2013). "Colorado's Ken Salazar joins top law firm, will open a Denver office". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
^Karni, Annie (August 16, 2016). "Salazar to lead Clinton's transition team". Politico.
^"Report: Mexican officials say Salazar will be next US ambassador to Mexico". Politico. May 27, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
^"Reports: Ken Salazar is Biden's pick for US ambassador to Mexico". Colorado Politics. May 28, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
^"Biden is said to be planning to nominate Burns and Garcetti for ambassadorships". The New York Times. May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
^"PN735 — Kenneth Lee Salazar — Department of State". Congress.gov. August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
2021. KenSalazar was born in Alamosa, Colorado, the son of Emma Montoya and Enrique Salazar. His elder brother is former Congressman John Salazar. He grew...
ambassador in 2021, and was replaced by former U.S. Senator from Colorado KenSalazar. As Ambassador to Mexico, Landau was noted for his heavy usage of social...
spill and Inspector General investigations, Secretary of the Interior KenSalazar issued a secretarial order on May 19, 2010, splitting MMS into three...
member of the Democratic Party, he was appointed to the seat when Senator KenSalazar became Secretary of the Interior. Bennet previously worked as a managing...
in 1995) retired instead of seeking a third term. Democratic nominee KenSalazar won the open seat, defeating Republican nominee Pete Coors despite Republican...
a primary factor. Coors faced Democrat and Colorado Attorney General KenSalazar in the November 2004 election, and was defeated by a margin of 51% to...
loved ones they left behind. The United States Ambassador to Mexico KenSalazar also issued a statement the day of the capture: Thank you to SEMAR and...
administration, and she was nominated as Secretary of the Interior to succeed KenSalazar in 2013. Her nomination received substantial bipartisan support and she...
Emma M. (Montoya) and Henry (Enrique) S. Salazar. His younger brother is former Senator KenSalazar. Salazar served in the U.S. Army from 1973 to 1976...
January 27, 2010. O'Keefe, Ed (January 25, 2011). "State of the Union: KenSalazar to serve as 'designated survivor'". The Washington Post. Archived from...
Barack Obama nominated incumbent U.S. Senator KenSalazar as Secretary of the Interior. After Salazar resigned from his seat, Democratic governor Bill...
2008). "Interior Secretary Salazar: Confirmation outlook smooth". Yahoo! News. Yahoo! Inc. "Dirk Kempthorne says Sen. KenSalazar will make a fine Interior...
2nd congressional district Joe Neguse, and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico KenSalazar. Governor Ned Lamont was re-elected in 2022 with 56% of the vote. Because...
Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas. Bill Clinton and Secretary of the Interior KenSalazar formally dedicated the site on April 16, 2011. Side view Other side view...
Cheney, Dutch Clark, Thomas Hornsby Ferril, James Heckman, Steve Sabol, KenSalazar, and Marc Webb. Most of the university's varsity sports teams compete...
Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado chose not to run for re-election and Democrat KenSalazar won the open seat. This was the third consecutive election cycle for...
that he would not run for a third term. His seat was won by Democrat KenSalazar in the November 2004 election. Campbell later expressed interest in running...
2004, McDonough became legislative director for newly elected Senator KenSalazar. McDonough was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress in...
Dianne Feinstein. Appointed to the seat following the resignation of KenSalazar, who had become Secretary of the Interior. Elected to the seat to succeed...
flawed. On November 29, 2012, United States Secretary of the Interior KenSalazar directed the National Park Service to allow the permit for oyster farming...
(June 15, 2021). "Biden to nominate Tom Nides as ambassador to Israel; KenSalazar, 'Sully' Sullenberger also get posts". The Washington Post. Retrieved...
Colorado Attorney General KenSalazar announced his candidacy as well. Udall bowed out of the race and endorsed Salazar. 2008 On January 15, 2007, incumbent...
then-President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet. Eventually, then-Colorado Senator KenSalazar was nominated for that position instead. On February 25, 2009, Locke...
Outer Continental Shelf was declared by U.S. Secretary of the Interior KenSalazar. The limitation was in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill which...
Global Information
