November 25, 2003

The President announced today the appointment of James R. Wilkinson as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Communications, and the appointment of Sean McCormack as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director of the National Security Council Press Office. Both appointments will be effective December 1, 2003.

Prior to joining the National Security Council staff, Mr. Wilkinson served as Director of Strategic Communications for General Tommy Franks at U.S. Central Command. At Central Command, Mr. Wilkinson coordinated the command 's strategic communications activities throughout its 25-nation area of responsibility, including those related to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Mr. Wilkinson served as General Tommy R. Franks' principal spokesman and managed the U.S. military's public affairs activities in the region.

From January 2001 through November 2002, Mr. Wilkinson served at the White House as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Communications for Planning. Mr. Wilkinson also managed the White House Coalition Information Center for the war against terrorism. Prior to joining the White House, Mr. Wilkinson served as spokesman for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld during the 2000 presidential transition. From 1992 through 2000, Mr. Wilkinson worked in Congress for U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey. Mr. Wilkinson received his B.B.A. in finance from the University of Texas at Arlington and his M.A. from The Johns Hopkins University.

Mr. McCormack retains his current roles as spokesman for the National Security Council and White House Deputy Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs, reporting to the National Security Advisor and the White House Press Secretary.