June 25 (UPI) -- The Senate on Wednesday voted 56-40 to confirm Paul Dabbar as the deputy secretary of the Commerce Department.
Dabbar will serve as the Commerce Department's chief operating officer and oversee its $11.4 billion annual budget across its 12 units and the department's 47,000 employees.
Science and technology are "fundamental to shaping our nation's future," Dabbar said.
"As a scientist, I'm eager to work alongside the dedicated teams and partners across the department to accelerate research and drive innovation," he added.
The Senate confirmation also makes Dabbar a member of the President's Management Council.
