Confirmed Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks on April 30, 2009. President Obama nominated him for the position on March 12, 2009. In this capacity he will oversee and coordinate policy decisions for the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition he will serve concurrently as chief of staff to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. In 1996 and 2002, he was the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate in Colorado. The Board of Directors of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) appointed Thomas L. Strickland as executive vice president and chief legal officer, effective May 28, 2007. Previously, Mr. Strickland was the managing partner of the Colorado offices of the Hogan and Hartson law firm and a member of the firm's executive committee. He has served UnitedHealth Group as outside legal counsel on a variety of issues. In his leadership position at Hogan & Hartson, Mr. Strickland was responsible for managing the firm's Colorado-based lawyers and an extensive support staff. His practice included major corporate clients across a broad range of industries and issues, including securities enforcement, telecommunications, natural resources, public lands, transportation, real estate, environmental matters, government relations and business finance. As United States Attorney for the District of Colorado from 1999 to 2001, Mr. Strickland oversaw all federal civil and criminal matters for the state of Colorado. Prior to serving as U.S. Attorney, he spent 15 years in private practice in Denver. From 1982 to 1984, Mr. Strickland served as the principal policy advisor for Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm. From 1985 to 1989 he served on and chaired the Colorado Transportation Commission. Mr. Strickland has also served as legal counsel to the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and was a founder and board member of Great Outdoors Colorado, the lottery-funded endowment for Colorado's public parks system. He currently serves on the Board of The Children's Hospital and The Denver Public Schools Foundation.