GREEN RIVER -- President Barack Obama has nominated another Wyoming native to a prestigious ambassadorship, according to White House officials.

The president recently nominated Robert R. King -- a longtime Capitol Hill insider and a native of Sweetwater County -- to serve as special envoy on North Korean human rights issues, with the rank of ambassador under the Department of State.

"I am honored that this talented individual has chosen to serve their country at this important moment in our history," Obama said about the nomination. "He will be a valued voice in my administration, and I look forward to working with him in the coming months and years."

The nomination must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. If approved, King would serve at the pleasure of the president.

The Senate Finance Committee will hold confirmation hearings on the nomination, but no date has been set. If the committee recommends King's nomination, a full vote in the Senate would then be scheduled.

If confirmed by the Senate, King would replace Jay Lefkowitz, who left his post in January after serving under President George W. Bush. He would serve as part of U.S.

Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Bosworth's team.

King is a native of Rock Springs and a graduate of Rock Springs High School. He resides in McLean, Va., with his wife Kay.

King has worked on Capitol Hill for the past 25 years, according to the White House Office of the press secretary.

For 24 of those years, he was chief of staff to Congressman Tom Lantos, D-Calif.

During that time, King also served as staff director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and as Democratic staff director of the committee.

As staff director, King supervised committee staff on all aspects of its legislative, oversight and investigative work.

King was heavily involved in the planning and conduct of Rep. Lantos' human rights agenda, including the establishment and supervision of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus.

King served in the 1970s on the National Security Council staff as a White House fellow during the Carter administration.

He was later an assistant director of research and analysis at Radio Free Europe in Munich, Germany.

He is the author of five books and numerous articles on international relations issues, and he is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

King earned a Ph.D. in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a B.A from Brigham Young University.

He has taught courses in U.S foreign policy and international relations at the University of Southern California, the American University in Washington, New England College, BYU and other institutions.

His nomination marks the second Wyoming native to be nominated by President Obama in recent weeks for an ambassador's post.

Last month, the president nominated Michael Punke of Missoula, Mont. to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the World Trade Organization. Punke is a Torrington native, a former senior trade official in the Clinton administration and a celebrated best-selling author.

Southwest Wyoming Bureau reporter Jeff Gearino can be reached at 307-875-5359 or at gearino@tribcsp.com.