The appointment of Stephen Biegun on Thursday as U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy fills a key Trump administration role vacated by Ambassador Joseph Yun, a career diplomat, in February.

Biegun, the Vice President of International Governmental Affairs at the Ford Motor Company, previously advised 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, served in administrative roles in the George W. Bush National Security Council, and was a foreign policy advisor to Republican members of Congress.

While it’s not unusual for political appointees to occupy other special representative and envoy roles, in this particular