A career diplomat who has served in Iraq and held posts in Colombia and Asia in the war on drugs has been nominated as U.S. ambassador to Panama.

Phyllis Marie Powers, was director of the Drug Enforcement Programs U.S. Embassy official in Colombia and the Office of South Asia and East Asia.
The Powers' resume shows she has a degree in biology from the University of Pennsylvania,and has served missions to Peru, Russia, Poland and Jordan.
Powers will replace Barbara Stephenson, who has been posted to a senior position in the U.S. Embassy in London.
The State Department reported yesterday that the White House has prohibited the disclosure of any information on the appointment until after it is ratified by the Senate, which takes several months.