Former governor candidate Barbara Barrett tabbed as Finland ambassador
March 13th, 2008, 5:12 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Paul Giblin
Barbara McConnell Barrett
President Bush nominated Paradise Valley attorney and education advocate Barbara McConnell Barrett to be U.S. ambassador to Finland on Thursday. She currently serves as chief executive of Triple Creek Ranch, a luxury resort in Montana. Barrett is a renascence woman whose varied career has delved deeply into the realms of business, politics and education.
She served as deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and as vice chairmanwoman of the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board, among other posts. She also served as president of the Arizona World Affairs Council and the Economic Club of Phoenix, and as national chairwoman of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce’s Export Conference.
In 2000, at the request of the Chinese government, Barrett led a delegation of some of the leading women of the world to six cities in China as president of the International Women’s Forum.
In 1994, she ran unsuccessfully against sitting Gov. Fife Symington for the GOP nomination.
“I congratulate Barbara on her nomination and believe that, once confirmed by the Senate, she will serve with distinction,” said U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl. “I will do what I can to help her nomination move quickly through the Senate.”
Barrett received her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and law degree from Arizona State University. She’s an instrument rated pilot and was the first civilian woman to land in an F/A-18 Hornet on an aircraft carrier, according to the White House.
She is married to Craig Barrett, chairman of Intel Corp.
