Nomination of Michael Sotirhos To Be United States Ambassador to Jamaica
August 22, 1985
The President today announced his intention to nominate Michael Sotirhos as Ambassador of the United States of America to Jamaica. He would succeed William Alexander Hewitt.
Mr. Sotirhos began his career as a partner with Ariston Sales Co., Ltd., New York, NY, in 1948. In 1958 he became founder and chairman of Ariston Interior Designers, Inc., of New York, and in 1983 became chairman of the board and consultant. In 1973 - 1975 Mr. Sotirhos was a member of the National Voluntary Service Advisory Council and Chairman of the International Operations Committee, Peace Corps. In 1976 he served as a member of the National Advisory Council of the Small Business Administration. He has also been chairman of the National Republican Heritage Groups Council. In 1983 he received the Man of the Year Award from the National Republican Heritage Groups Council.
Mr. Sotirhos was born November 12, 1928, in New York. He received his B.B.A. in 1950 from the City College of New York, Bernard M. Baruch School of Business and Civic Administration. His foreign languages are Greek and Spanish. Mr. Sotirhos is married to the former Estelle Manos, and they have two children.
Nomination of Robert G. Houdek To Be United States Ambassador to Uganda
August 22, 1985
The President today announced his intention to nominate Robert G. Houdek, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, as Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Uganda. He would succeed Allen Clayton Davis.
Mr. Houdek entered the Foreign Service in 1962. In 1963 - 1965 he was a junior officer trainee at the U.S. Embassy in Brussels, Belgium. He served as political officer in Conakry, Guinea, in 1965 - 1967 and then returned to the Department as a staff officer in the Executive Secretariat in 1967 - 1969. Mr. Houdek then went to the National Security Council as a special assistant to the national security adviser in 1969 - 1971. He attended the Woodrow Wilson School as a Mid-Career fellow at Princeton University in 1971 - 1972. In 1972 he became deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where he served until 1976 when he went to Jamaica as political counselor. In 1976 he served as Deputy Director of the Office of West African Affairs in the Department and then Director of the Office of Intra-African Affairs in 1978 - 1980. In 1980 he became deputy chief of mission in Nairobi, Kenya, where he served until 1984 when he returned to the Department as a member of the executive seminar in national and international affairs.
Mr. Houdek was born February 26, 1940, in Chicago, IL. He received his B.A. in 1961 from Beloit College and his M.A. in 1962 from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. His foreign language is French. Mr. Houdek is married to the former Mary Elizabeth Wood, and they have two children.
Nomination of Jean Broward Shevlin Gerard To Be United States Ambassador to Luxembourg
August 22, 1985
The President today announced his intention to nominate Jean Broward Shevlin Gerard to be Ambassador of the United States of America to Luxembourg. She would succeed John E. Dolibois.
Mrs. Gerard began her career as an attorney with Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft in New York in 1977 - 1981. In 1981 she was named the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization at Paris, France, and accorded the rank of Ambassador by the President during the tenure of her service in this position. In 1982 - 1985 she was U.S. member of the Executive Board of UNESCO and vice president of the Board in 1983 - 1985. In 1984 she served as chairman of the U.S. delegation at the preparatory conference for the 1985 United Nations Decade for Women World Conference in Vienna, Austria. In 1983 Mrs. Gerard was chairman of the U.S. delegation to the 4th Extraordinary UNESCO General Conference in Paris, France, and vice chairman of the U.S. delegation to the 22d UNESCO General Conference in Paris. She was chairman of the U.S. delegation to the 2d UNESCO Conference on World Cultural Policies in Mexico City in 1982.
Mrs. Gerard as born March 9, 1938, in Portland, OR. She received her A.B. in 1959 from Vassar College and her J.D. in 1977 from Fordham University School of Law. Her foreign languages are French, Italian, and German. Mrs. Gerard is married to James Watson Gerard II, and they have two children.
Nomination of Edwin J. Feulner, Jr., To Be a Member of the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, and Designation as Chairman
August 22, 1985
The President today announced his intention to nominate Edwin J. Feulner, Jr., to be a member of the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy for a term expiring July 1, 1988. This is a reappointment. The President also intends to redesignate Mr. Feulner as Chairman upon his confirmation by the Senate.
Since 1977 Mr. Feulner has been serving as president of the Heritage Foundation. Previously, he was executive vice president of the Heritage Foundation in 1977; executive director of the Republican Study Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, in 1974 - 1977; president of the Robert M. Schuchman Memorial Foundation in 1973 - 1974; and legislative assistant, administrative assistant, and special assistant to Representative Philip M. Crane in 1970 - 1977.
He graduated from Regis College (B.S., 1963) and the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (M.B.A., 1974). He is married, has two children, and resides in Alexandria, VA. He was born August 12, 1941, in Chicago, IL.