Veteran federal prosecutor Lanny Welch has been appointed the interim U.S. Attorney in the District of Kansas, a position he will hold until a presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney takes over.

Welch, 47, a former assistant county attorney in Barton County, joined the U.S. Attorneyź??s office in 1989. He has served as criminal chief and deputy branch manager of the U.S. Attorneyź??s Wichita office. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1984 and the Washburn University School of Law in 1987.

Welch will serve until the Obama administration nominates a new U.S. Attorney and the U.S. Senate confirms the appointment. The last presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney in Kansas was Eric Melgren, who resigned in October 2008 to become the newest federal district judge in Kansas.

Welch will oversee the operations of the U.S. Attorneyź??s three offices in Kansas including Topeka, Kansas City, Kan., and Wichita. About 100 people, including about 45 attorneys, work in the three offices.