Nomination of John P. Leonard To Be United States Ambassador to Suriname

The President today announced his intention to nominate John P. Leonard, of Virginia, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Suriname. He would succeed Richard C. Howland.

Since 1988 Mr. Leonard has served as Deputy Chief of Mission for the U.S. Embassy in Managua. Prior to this, he served with the State Department, 1987 - 1988; Counselor of the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay, 1985 - 1987; and Counselor of the U.S. Embassy in Asuncion, Paraguay, 1983 - 1985. In addition, Mr. Leonard served in the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, 1981 - 1983; a politico-military officer in Madrid, Spain, 1978 - 1981; and in the Department of State, 1973 - 1978. He also served in Seoul, Republic of Korea, as a political officer, 1970 - 1973, and as vice consul, 1969 - 1970; and third secretary and vice consul at the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg, 1966 - 1968.

Mr. Leonard graduated from Harvard University (B.A., 1962). He was born July 16, 1940, in New York, NY. Mr. Leonard served in the U.S. Army, 1962 - 1965. He is married and has two children.