Sen. Tim Johnson has recommended to the president that Paul Thielen of Rapid City be appointed U.S. marshal in South Dakota.

Thielen currently is a senior investigator and deputy U.S. marshal in Rapid City.  The U.S. marshal's job is among certain federal jobs that change hands when a new president takes office.

Johnson earlier had recommended Randy Seiler for the job, but the senator says Seiler withdrew from consideration after taking a promotion within the U.S. attorney's office.