President Obama announced Friday morning that Senate Foreign Relations John Kerry is nominated to be the 68th Secretary of State. Obama appears to be confident in his nomination as he made his announcement at the White House with Kerry at his side.

Kerry has been seen as the potential frontrunner for secretary of state, not only because U.N ambassador Susan Rice withdrew her name for consideration, but because of Kerry’s 30-year-history working in foreign policy.

“I think its fair to say that few individuals know as many presidents and prime ministers or grasp our foreign policies as firmly as John Kerry,” stated President Obama during his announcement at the White House. “This makes him a perfect choice to guide American diplomacy in the years ahead.”

Kerry served as lieutenant in the United States Navy and is a decorated veteran of the Vietnam war. When Kerry lost the presidential election to George W. Bush in 2004 he decided to invest his career in Senate work in which Kerry rose to chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2009 when Joe Biden left the job to become Obama’s Vice President. With his work, Kerry has traveled around the globe on behalf of the Obama administration to amend frayed relationships. Kerry is acclaimed for his travels to Pakistan in which he worked on mending the relationship between American and Pakistan especially after it weakened due to the raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. Kerry also reached out to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad before al-Assad’s administration turned on him because of his crackdown on protesters.

With this past election Kerry also stood in for Mitt Romney for Obama in presidential debate prep.

“Nothing brings two people together better than debate prep,”stated Obama.

Alaska’s Senators responded by new release to the news of Kerry’s nomination. Alaska’s senior Senator, Lisa Murkowski said, “The global picture as we look to 2013 is tremendously complicated, and I know Senator John Kerry has a deep understanding of all the variables at play right now in the most unstable areas. Anyone who has worked with Senator Kerry knows his hard work ethic and his expertise on foreign relations. His solid understanding of international fishing issues and our emerging Arctic will make him as asset to Alaska at the State Department, and I think John Kerry will serve us well.”

Alaska’s junior Senator, Mark Begich had this to say, “John Kerry is a wise choice for the nation for secretary of state and a wise choice for Alaska. In my four years in the Senate, I’ve worked with John on climate change issues and he’s well aware of the global and economic implications of a changing climate, including those facing Alaska. After his many years of service in the Senate and especially as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, he knows his way around the world and is respected by international leaders. I’m confident he will win quick Senate confirmation and will ably guide our nation’s foreign policy at a time of enormous challenge.”

Hillary Clinton, current secretary of state, wasn’t present at the announcement, due to a concussion, and attempting to recover from the flu. Clinton is known as the most traveled secretary of state in history, and her work has made her a well-known nad respected U.S diplomat.

“John Kerry has been tested- in war, in government, and in diplomacy. Time and again, he has proven his mettle,” Clinton wrote in a statement regarding Kerry’s nomination. “Senator Kerry has fought for our nation’s diplomats and development experts- and for investing in their mission and America’s global leadership.”

Clinton plans on leave at the close of Obama’s first term, but she has pledged that she will leave only when a successor has been confirmed.