On July 10, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Walter North as the next Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Republic of Vanuatu. The WH released the following brief bio:
Walter North, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Career-Minister, is currently the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director in Egypt. Mr. North previously served as USAID Mission Director in Indonesia (2007-2011); India (2000-2004); and Zambia (1996-2000), as well as Deputy Mission Director in Ethiopia (1992-1996). Posts at USAID’s Washington headquarters have included: Interim Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Africa (2006-2007); Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Policy and Program Coordination (2005-2006); and Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Asia and the Near East (2004-2005). Before joining USAID in 1980, Mr. North was a project manager for the non-profit, humanitarian organization, CARE in India and Bangladesh, and a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia.
He received a B.A. from Lawrence University, a J.D. from George Washington University Law School, and an M.P.A. from Harvard University.
Feb 19, 2009 | Secretary Clinton Walks Through walk through Petojo Utara Neighborhood in Jakarta with USAID Director, Mr. Walter North (left), and Mr. Irwansyah (center). [State Department photo]
* Correction:
Everett Bierman is listed an an FSO both in the Wikipedia list of US Ambassadors to Papua and in the State Department’s Office of the Historian’s list. I was working from those lists.
http://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/bierman-everett-e
After a reader called our attention to this, we’ve located additional information that shows Ambassador Bierman was a political appointee. So we have at least one political appointee previously assigned to Papua New Guinea. Thanks M. for the correction!
http://memory.loc.gov/service/mss/mssmisc/mfdip/2005%20txt%20files/2004bie01.txt
Related item:
July 10, 2012 | President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts
More than 5 000 peoples and local authorities from Est cost of the Island of Tanna in TAFEA Province in the Republic of Vanuatu are very happy to welcome the new usa ambassador Mr Walter North. The hope to receve him in the future in their home land Tanna .
From YAWAH YARIS Leon a Spokesman of Est-Coast Tanna