President Donald Trump announced four U.S. attorney nominations Friday, including a Wal-Mart employee for the Western District of Arkansas post, according to a White House news release.
Duane "Dak" Kees is an ethics and compliance director for the Bentonville-based retailer focusing on corporate investigations, according to the release. He was reportedly previously a partner at the Asa Hutchinson Law Group.
The White House said Kees also served eight years in the U.S. Army JAG Corps and earned two Bronze Stars and a Meritorious Service Medal during his service. He has a bachelor's and a law degree from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Arkansas' Republican senators applauded the decision.
"This is a strong choice," U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton said in a statement. "Dan Kees has a keen legal mind, a record of military service, and a deeply held commitment to our state. I'm confident he'll serve the people of Arkansas well while upholding the rule of law."
Sen. John Boozman agreed. "Dak's strong investigative skills and extensive hands-on experience handling complex litigation in criminal courtrooms make him and excellent nominee," Boozman said in a release.
The other three selections in Trump's seventh wave of attorney nominations are Erin Nealy Cox for the Northern District of Texas, Matthew Krueger for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Christina Nolan for the District of Vermont.
Read Saturday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.