Lobbying world

•Robert Tappan has joined Weber Merritt Public Affairs as president of public affairs. Tappan most recently headed the Washington office of Burson-Marsteller. He previously served in the State Department as principal deputy assistant secretary of state for public affairs. He was also the director of strategic communications for the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Baghdad in 2004.

•Kathleen Harrington has joined Dutko Worldwide as senior vice president. Harrington most recently ran her own consultancy. She previously served as chief of staff for the Broadcasting Board of Governors and as a senior adviser in the State Department’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs under President Bill Clinton. She was also a staffer for Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.)

•Thomas Santos has joined the American Insurance Association. Most recently, Santos served as director of government relations at the Association of Finance Professionals. He was previously legislative director for former Rep. James Maloney (D-Conn.).

•Albert G. Nahas has been appointed vice president of government affairs for Cheniere Energy. Most recently, Nahas served as U.S. deputy director for Iraq economic policy in the State Department’s Office of Iraq Affairs. He joined the State Department in 1977 as an officer in the Foreign Service.

•Eric K. Federing has been promoted to KPMG’s executive director of business and public policy. He previously served as a director in the accounting firm’s government affairs group. Prior to joining KPMG, Federing was press secretary to Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and director of communications for the minority on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

•Jennifer Wahlen has been promoted to assistant director of political affairs at the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU). She previously served as the trade group’s legislative and political action committee assistant. Prior to joining NAFCU, she was a staffer for Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.).

•Dennis Padilla has joined Strategic Marketing Innovations as a senior adviser. Padilla recently retired from the Navy as the director of contracts and grants for the Office of Naval Research.

•Catherine Bray has joined the American Legislative Exchange Council as director of international relations. Bray most recently served as chief of staff for a member of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.