Appointment of Nelson C. Ledsky as Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

The President today announced the appointment of Nelson C. Ledsky as Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and Senior Director, European and Soviet Affairs Directorate. He will succeed Fritz W. Ermarth.

Mr. Ledsky has been a member of the staff of the National Security Council at the White House since April 1987. A career Foreign Service officer, Mr. Ledsky served as Deputy Director of the Policy Planning Staff at the Department of State from mid-1985 to March 1987. Before that, from 1981 to 1985, he was U.S. Minister in Berlin. Other assignments of Mr. Ledsky in the Foreign Service have included positions as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations; Office Director for Southern Europe; and Deputy Director of the Office of Central European Affairs. Mr. Ledsky's overseas assignments have included West Germany, Nigeria, and Guyana.

Mr. Ledsky is a graduate of Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, and Columbia University in New York City. He is married to the former Cecile Waeehter and has three children.