Press Release - Press Release - President Bush to Nominate Blankenship as Ambassador to the Bahamas

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate J. Richard Blankenship to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Bahamas.

"Rick Blankenship has spent much of his professional life working with the Bahamas and other Caribbean nations. His economic expertise in the Caribbean region will make him an excellent U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas," said President Bush.

Blankenship is presently the Hospital Director of the Mandarin Veterinary Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and was previously a Partner and Director of the Capital South Group in Jacksonville. From 1982 to 1985 he served as President and CFO at St. John's Capital and was with Raymond James & Associates in St. Petersburg from 1981 to 1982. He is a graduate of Florida State University.