ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to confirm Damon Martinez as New Mexico’s next U.S. attorney.
The Albuquerque native was confirmed by the full Senate by a voice vote.
Martinez has served as an assistant U.S. attorney since 2001 and supervised the organized crime and gang section in Albuquerque. He has also worked on national security, anti-terrorism, immigration and narcotics cases.
New Mexico Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich recommended Martinez for the position in letter sent to President Barack Obama in April 2013.
“Damon Martinez’s long record of public service to the people of New Mexico has more than prepared him to serve as the state’s U.S. attorney,” Heinrich said in a statement.
Udall said Martinez’s distinguished career in law enforcement will serve him well as U.S. attorney.
Martinez replaces Kenneth Gonzales, who left the position last year to assume a federal judgeship.
Before joining the U.S. attorney’s office, Martinez served as an assistant state attorney general.
A graduate of Albuquerque’s St. Pius X High School, Martinez holds a law degree from the University of New Mexico. He hold holds the rank of major in the New Mexico National Guard.
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