Edward J. Perkins
Edward J. Perkins | |
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United States Ambassador to Australia | |
In office November 24, 1993 – July 19, 1996 | |
President | Bill Clinton |
Preceded by | Melvin F. Sembler |
Succeeded by | Genta H. Holmes |
19th United States Ambassador to the United Nations | |
In office May 12, 1992 – January 27, 1993 | |
President | George H.W. Bush Bill Clinton |
Preceded by | Thomas R. Pickering |
Succeeded by | Madeleine Albright |
United States Ambassador to South Africa | |
In office October 16, 1986 – May 22, 1989 | |
President | Ronald Reagan |
Preceded by | Herman W. Nickel |
Succeeded by | William L. Swing |
United States Ambassador to Liberia | |
In office July 12, 1985 – October 22, 1986 | |
President | Ronald Reagan |
Preceded by | William Lacy Swing |
Succeeded by | James Keough Bishop |
Personal details | |
Born | Sterlington Ouachita Parish Louisiana, USA | June 8, 1928
Spouse | Lucy Chen-mei Liu |
Alma mater | University of Maryland University College University of Southern California |
Edward Joseph Perkins (born June 8, 1928) is a former American diplomat who served as U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, South Africa, and the United Nations. He was later the director of the United States State Department's Diplomatic Corps.
Life
Perkins was born in Sterlington in Ouachita Parish in north Louisiana, the son of Edward Joseph Perkins, Sr., and Tiny Estella Noble Holmes. He grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated in 1947 from Jefferson High School in Portland, Oregon. He earned his B.A. from the University of Maryland University College in 1967, and his M.A. and Doctor of Public Administration from the University of Southern California. He is an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and holds the highest honor the fraternity bestows on its members, the Laurel Wreath award.
Career
After serving in the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, including stints in Tokyo and South Korea, he held numerous positions in the Department of State and Foreign Service. He was appointed ambassador to Liberia in 1985, and in 1986 was appointed ambassador to South Africa, where he would serve until 1989. He returned home to serve in the State Department until 1992, when he was appointed ambassador to the United Nations and U.S. Representative to the U.N. Security Council.[1][2] In 1993, he was appointed representative to the Commonwealth of Australia, where he served until 1996 before retiring at the rank of Career Minister in the United States Foreign Service.
He taught at the University of Oklahoma where he served as Senior Vice Provost Emeritus of International Programs at the International Program Center, and Professor Emeritus of the School of International and Area Studies. He is a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy.[3]
Writings
- Mr. Ambassador, Warrior for Peace (memoirs,) published by The University of Oklahoma Press in 2006.
- The Palestinian Refugees: Old Problems - New Solutions (Studies in peace politics in the Middle East) - co-editor with Joseph Ginat, Sussex Academic Press, 2002.
- The Middle East Peace Process: Vision Versus Reality (Studies in peace politics in the Middle East) - co-editor with Joseph Ginat, Sussex Academic Press, 2002.
- Palestinian Refugees: Traditional Positions and New Solutions = co-editor with Joseph Ginat, University of Oklahoma Press, 2001.
- The seedlings of hope: U.S. policy in Africa, U.S. Department of State, 1989.
References
- ^ Directors General of the Foreign Service/Directors of the Bureau of Human Resources
- ^ United Nations (New York)
- ^ "Edward J. Perkins". The American Academy of Diplomacy. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
- Directors General of the Foreign Service/Directors of the Bureau of Human Resources
- Representatives of the U.S.A. to the United Nations
- Edward J. Perkins
- biography and citations
- University of Maryland University College / Achiever Summer 2007 article
- Norma M. Riccucci (1995). Unsung Heroes: Federal Execucrats Making a Difference. Georgetown University Press.
External links
- 1928 births
- Living people
- African-American diplomats
- Ambassadors of the United States to Liberia
- Ambassadors of the United States to South Africa
- Permanent Representatives of the United States to the United Nations
- Ambassadors of the United States to Australia
- University of Oklahoma faculty
- University of Maryland University College alumni
- USC Sol Price School of Public Policy alumni
- Florida State University faculty
- People from Ouachita Parish, Louisiana
- People from Portland, Oregon
- People from Oklahoma
- Jefferson High School (Portland, Oregon) alumni
- Phi Kappa Phi