Nomination of Theodore E. Gildred To Be United States Ambassador to Argentina

The President today announced his intention to nominate Theodore E. Gildred, of California, as Ambassador to Argentina. He succeeds Frank V. Ortiz, Jr.

Mr. Gildred began his career as a sales representative with City Chevrolet in San Diego, CA. From 1960 to 1961, he became executive assistant to the president of Pacesetter Homes of Orange County, CA, to be followed by president and chief executive officer, and owner of Costa Pacifica, Inc., in Newport Beach and La Verne, CA, 1961-1965. From 1965 to 1968, he was administrator of real estate developments and investments for San Juan de Letran Norte in Mexico. Since 1968 Mr. Gildred has been founder and chairman of the board of Torrey Pines Bank, a California-chartered bank organized in 1979 with seven San Diego branches, and its holding company, Torrey Pines Group. Mr. Gildred directs and serves on advisory boards of more than a dozen health care, cultural, educational, youth, recreational, and business organizations in the United States and Mexico and is the recipient of a number of public service awards.

Mr. Gildred graduated from Stanford University (B.A., 1959) and received certificates in 1960 from Sorbonne University in Paris, France, and the University of Heidelberg in Germany. He served in the United States Army, 1955-1959, and in the United States Air Force Reserve, 1959-1969. Mr. Gildred is bilingual in Spanish and fluent in French. He is married to the former Stephanie Ann Moseini, and they have five children. Mr. Gildred was born on October 18, 1935, in Mexico.