Appointment of William A. Cockell, Jr., as Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

The President today announced the appointment of William A. Cockell, Jr., to he Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Defense Policy).

Mr. Cockell is currently serving as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Previously he was an active naval duty officer, retiring in the grade of rear admiral on January 1, 1986. While with the Navy, he served in Washington and on major staffs in Europe and the Pacific in a variety of positions dealing with strategic planning, politico-military affairs, and arms control matters. He was a Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and Director of the CNO Executive Panel from 1973 to 1975; and Executive Assistant to the CNO from 1978 to 1981. Recent operational assignments included command of a Pacific fleet cruiser-destroyer group; command of the surface combatant force, U.S. 7th Fleet; and command of the U.S.S. New Jersey battle group during the battleship's first western Pacific deployment following recommissioning. Immediately prior to his retirement, he headed the Pacific Fleet Training Command, headquartered in San Diego.

Mr. Cockell is a graduate of Ohio State University (B.A., 1950), Columbia University (M.A. and certificate of the Russian Institute, 1952), and the University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 1959). He is a member of the Michigan Bar and currently lives in Arlington, VA. He was born on August 12, 1929.