On Saturday, the United States Senate confirmed the nomination of Kevin Washburn for the position of Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs within the Department of the Interior.

The Senate approved Washburn by unanimous consent. President Obama nominated Washburn for the Assistant Secretray position in August of this year.

Washburn is a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Dean of the University of New Mexico’s Law School. He has held the position of Dean there since being named in June of 2009. Prior to that, he served as the Rosenstiel Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law from 2008 to 2009 and as an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota Law School from 2002 to 2008.

At Harvard, Washburn was the Oneida Indian Nation Visiting Professor in 2007 and 2008. Her was also general counsel for the National Indian Gaming Commission and the Assistant U.S. Attorney in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar applauded the Senate vote, saying, “As we continue to strengthen the integrity of the nation’s government-to-government relationship with federally-recognized Indian tribes and empower Native American and Alaska Native communities, Kevin Washburn will be an outstanding addition to our leadership team and a vital asset for President Obama’s initiatives in Indian Country,” Salazar said. “Kevin’s professional and academic achievements and his thorough knowledge of the critical issues facing the Nation’s First Americans will help us to fulfill the President’s commitment to empower tribal governments and advance their economic and social goals.”

Wasburn will begin work in October. Of his Senate approval, Washburn said, “It’s a tremendous honor and an exceedingly daunting challenge, my hope is that I can help tribes continue to pursue self-governance.”