By John E. Mulligan
Journal Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- A key senator provided a stong endorsement Tuesday for the nomination of U.S. Sen. Jack Reed's longtime defense aide to be the Pentagon's chief liason with Congress.

"You've had an experience second to none" as a prospective assistant secretary of defense for legislative affairs, Armed Services Committee chairman, U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, Democrat of Michigan, told Elizabeth L. King as the the panel took up nominations to several key jobs at the Pentagon this morning.

On a lighter note, Levin told King, a 13-year veteran of Reed's Senate staff who is well known to the committee, "it's a little bit strange to see you on the other side of the dais."

King appeared wtih former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus, the Navy secretary designate, and other nominees.

While the panel has not yet acted on the nominations, its ranking Republican, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, said full Senate confirmation would come "as soon as possible."

Reed introduced King in warm personal terms, and said it was "difficult" to see her leave his staff, but he expressed confidence that she would make a big contribution to the armed forces in the new position.

Also this morning, and in the same Senate office building, the Environment and Public Works Committee will consider President Obama's nomination of Cynthia Giles, director of the Rhode Island office of the Conservation Law Foundation, to be the Environmental Protection Agency's top enforcement officer. U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, who sits on the panel, will introduce Giles to the senators.

Watch the hearing live online via the Environment and Public Works Committee Web page.