President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate Jim Nicholson, of Colorado, to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Since 2001, he has served as the United States Ambassador to the Holy See. Prior to that, Ambassador Nicholson was the Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Earlier in his career, he founded Nicholson Enterprises, Inc., a developer of residential communities in Colorado. He also practiced law with a private firm in Denver.
Ambassador Nicholson served in Vietnam as an Army Ranger and Paratrooper. While serving on active duty, he received numerous awards, including the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry. He is also a 22 year veteran of the Army Reserve, retiring at the rank of full Colonel.
Ambassador Nicholson graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He received his master's degree in Public Policy from Columbia University and his law degree from the University of Denver.
George W. Bush, Press Release - Personnel Announcement Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/281421