PAUL WARD NOMINATED TO SERVE AS U.S. MARSHAL FOR NORTH DAKOTA

The following information was released by North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad:

Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Congressman Earl Pomeroy today applauded President Obama's selection of Bismarck native Paul Ward to be the next United States Marshal for North Dakota.

"Paul is an outstanding choice for U.S. Marshal. He is a selfless public servant - widely respected by his peers - who has dedicated his life to law enforcement. He has a reputation as a dogged investigator with a proven track record of working with law enforcement agencies on the local, state and federal levels," the Congressional delegation said in a joint statement. "We are confident he will make a fine U.S. Marshal for the state of North Dakota." Currently a Special Agent with the Inspector General's office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ward will oversee a field office that features fourteen deputy marshals, twenty court security officers and three administrative employees.

Prior to joining the USDA's Inspector General's office, Ward began his career as a Security Police Airman with the United States Air Force at Minot Air Force Base. He began his civilian law enforcement career in 1979 when he became a police officer and later a Deputy Sheriff for the Ward County Sheriff's Office in Minot. Ward has also served as a Special Agent for the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigations. The United States Marshal's office is the enforcement arm of the federal courts, and therefore involved in virtually every federal law enforcement initiative. Among their many duties, U.S. Marshals apprehend federal fugitives, protect the federal judiciary, operate the Witness Security Program, transport federal prisoners and seize property acquired by criminals through illegal activities. "I am both humbled and honored by President Obama's nomination and the support shown to me and my family by our congressional delegation. I look forward to continuing through the Senate nomination process in the days and weeks to come," Ward said.

United States Marshals are appointed by, and serve at the discretion of, the President of the United States.

Upon approval by the Senate, Ward, 51, will replace David S. Carpenter, who was appointed North Dakota's US Marshal by President George W. Bush in 2002.

Ward and his wife, Rhonda, have three children.

The U. S. Senate confirmed Paul Ward as the U. S. Marshal for the District of North Dakota.