Nomination of Gerald E. Thomas To Be United States Ambassador to Kenya

The President today announced his intention to nominate Gerald E. Thomas, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Kenya. He would succeed William C. Harrop.

In 1951 Mr. Thomas began his career with the United States Navy, serving on the U.S.S. Newman K. Perry (1951-1954) and the U.S.S. Worcester (1954-1956). He attended naval school in 1956-1957 and was assigned to the National Security Agency in 1957-1960. He was executive officer on the U.S.S. Lowe (1960-1962), assistant head of the college training programs section in the Bureau of Naval Personnel in 1963-1965, and attended the Naval War College in 1965-1966. In 1966-1967 he was commanding officer on the U.S.S. Bausell. He was executive officer of the NROTC Unit of Prairie View A. & M. College at Prairie View, Tex., in 1967-1969 and professor of naval science in 1969-1970. He attended the NROTC Unit at Yale University in 1970-1973. He was Commander of Destroyer Squadron NINE (1973-1974) and of Cruiser Destroyer Group FIVE (1974-1976). In 1976-1978 he was Director of the Near East and South Asia Region of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense and was Commander of Training Command of the Pacific Fleet in 1978-1981. He retired as rear admiral in 1981. Since 1981 he has been Ambassador to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Mr. Thomas graduated from Harvard University (B.S., 1951), George Washington University (M.S., 1966), and Yale University (Ph.D., 1973). He was born June 23, 1929,' in Natick, Mass.