Jon Huntsman Jr. will lead the National Governors Association's Natural Resources Committee and work on a six-governor group called the "Innovation America Task Force," focused on improving American students' job competitiveness and math and science education.

The governor touted his chance to consider "balanced growth," energy efficiency and creative solutions for extracting oil and coal and natural gas using advanced technologies. "There are great opportunities," he said in a press release.

Huntsman's NGA appointments follow the path of former Gov. Mike Leavitt, who used his post as chairman of NGA to promote his own policy initiatives, including the streamlined sales tax and En Libra, his environmental philosophy of openness.