Nomination of Donald K. Petterson To Be United States Ambassador to Sudan

The President today announced his intention to nominate Donald K. Petterson, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of the Sudan. He would succeed James Richard Cheek.

Currently Ambassador Petterson is studying at the Foreign Service Institute in Arlington, VA. Prior to this, Ambassador Petterson has served as Charge d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe, 1990 - 91; Director of the Liberia Task Force at the U.S. Department of State, 1990; and as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, 1990. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania, 1986 - 89; and the U.S. Ambassador to Somalia, 1978 - 82.

Ambassador Petterson graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara (B.A., 1956; M.A., 1960). He was born November 17, 1930, in Huntington Park, CA. Ambassador Petterson served in the U.S. Navy, 1948 - 52. He is married, has four children, and resides in Washington, DC.