Nomination of Thomas P. Shoesmith To Be United States Ambassador to Malaysia

October 11, 1983

The President announced today his intention to nominate Thomas P. Shoesmith, of Virginia, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be Ambassador to Malaysia. He would succeed Ronald D. Palmer.

Mr. Shoesmith served in the United States Army in 1943 - 1948 as a first lieutenant. He began his government career in 1951 as intelligence research officer in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the Department of State. He was consular officer in Hong Kong (1956 - 1958) and political officer in Seoul (1958 - 1960). From 1960 to 1961, he attended Japanese language training at the Foreign Service Institute and in Tokyo. He was political officer in Tokyo (1961 - 1963) and principal officer in Fukuoka (1963 - 1966). In the Department he was Deputy Director (1966 - 1967) and Director (1967 - 1971) of the Office of Republic of China Affairs. In 1971 - 1972 he was a member of the executive seminar in national and international affairs at the Foreign Service Institute. In 1972 - 1977 he was Deputy Chief of Mission in Tokyo and Consul General in Hong Kong in 1977 - 1981. Since 1981 he has been Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Department.

Mr. Shoesmith graduated from the University of Pennsylvania (B.S., 1943) and Harvard University (M.A., 1951). His foreign language is Japanese. He was born January 25, 1922, in Palmerton, Pa.

Nomination of Helmuth A. Merklein To Be an Assistant Secretary of Energy

October 11, 1983

The President today announced his intention to nominate Helmuth A. Merklein to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (International Affairs). He would succeed Henry E. Thomas IV.

Dr. Merklein is a professor in the department of petroleum engineering at Texas A. & M. University. Previously he was dean of the graduate school of management at the University of Dallas in 1980 - 1982. In 1970 - 1980 he was a graduate-level teacher of oil and gas consulting. He was with Core Laboratories in reservoir engineering, reserve evaluations, and international petroleum consulting in 1965 - 1968.

Dr. Merklein graduated from the University of Oklahoma (B.S., 1959) and the University of Dallas (M.B.A., 1968). He received his Ph. D. from Texas A. & M. University in 1970. He is married, has two children, and resides in Irving, Tex. He was born May 26, 1935, in Sumatra, Indonesia.

Appointment of Jack L. Courtemanche as Deputy Assistant to the President for Public Liaison

October 11, 1983

The President today announced the appointment of Jack L. Courtemanche to be Deputy Assistant to the President for Public Liaison. He will succeed Jonathan Vipond III.

Since February 1, 1983, Mr. Courtemanche has been serving as Executive Director of the White House Conference on Productivity. Previously he served as president of Crown Coach Corp. in Los Angeles (1979 - 1983). He was vice president of Mack Trucks, Inc., in Allentown, Pa., 1974 - 1979.

Mr. Courtemanche is married, has six children, and resides in Washington, D.C. He was born March 9, 1935, in McMinnville, Oreg.

 

Date
10/11/1983