Nomination of Richard Lee Armitage To Be an Assistant Secretary of Defense

The President today announced his intention to nominate Richard Lee Armitage to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs). He would succeed Frances J. West.

Since 1981 Mr. Armitage has been serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs for East Asia and Pacific Affairs). Previously he was administrative assistant to Senator Robert Dole (R-Kans.) in 1978-1979; partner, SEATHAI, Ltd., an import-export business in Bangkok, in 1976-1978; senior management consultant to the Department of Defense in 1975-1976; and an adviser to the U.S. Defense Attaché Office in Saigon in 1973-1975.

Mr. Armitage graduated from the United States Naval Academy (B.S., 1967). He was initially assigned to a U.S. Navy destroyer engaged in operations off the coast of Vietnam and subsequently served three in-country tours in Vietnam and an assignment as an instructor at the Naval Amphibious School. He resigned from the Navy in 1973.

Mr. Armitage is married, has six children, and resides in Fairfax, Va. He was born April 26, 1945, in Boston, Mass.