"John Norris, a veteran Iowa political aide who has been chief of staff for Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, was nominated Wednesday by President Barack Obama to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Norris, a University of Iowa College of Law graduate, had been chairman of the Iowa Utilities Board prior to joining Vilsack in Washington, D.C., less than five months ago."

William Petroski and Philip Brasher report for the Des Moines Register June 11, 2009. [2]