Edward J. Perkins

Edward Joseph Perkins (June 8, 1928 – November 7, 2020) was an American career diplomat who served as U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, South Africa, the United Nations, and Australia. He also served as the director of the United States State Department's Diplomatic Corps.

Edward J. Perkins
United States Ambassador to Australia
In office
November 24, 1993  July 19, 1996
PresidentBill Clinton
Preceded byMel Sembler
Succeeded byGenta H. Holmes
19th United States Ambassador to the United Nations
In office
May 12, 1992  January 27, 1993
PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush
Bill Clinton
Preceded byThomas R. Pickering
Succeeded byMadeleine Albright
Director General of the Foreign Service
In office
September 22, 1989  May 7, 1992
PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush
Preceded byGeorge S. Vest
Succeeded byGenta H. Holmes
United States Ambassador to South Africa
In office
November 27, 1986  May 22, 1989
PresidentRonald Reagan
George H. W. Bush
Preceded byHerman W. Nickel
Succeeded byWilliam L. Swing
United States Ambassador to Liberia
In office
August 28, 1985  October 22, 1986
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byWilliam L. Swing
Succeeded byJames Bishop
Personal details
Born
Edward Joseph Perkins

(1928-06-08)June 8, 1928
Sterlington, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedNovember 7, 2020(2020-11-07) (aged 92)
Washington D.C., U.S.
Political partyIndependent
Spouse(s)Lucy Chen-mei Liu
EducationUniversity of Maryland, University College (BA)
University of Southern California (MPA, DPA)

Early life and education

Perkins was born in Sterlington, Louisiana. 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, College Park in 1967, and his M.A. and Doctor of Public Administration from the University of Southern California. He was an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Career

After serving in the United States Army and United States Marine Corps, including stints in Tokyo and South Korea, he held numerous positions in the United States Department of State and United States Foreign Service. He was appointed ambassador to Liberia in 1985, and in 1986 was appointed ambassador to South Africa, where he served until 1989. He returned to the United States to serve in the State Department until 1992, when he was appointed United States Ambassador to the United Nations and U.S. Representative to the United Nations 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 was a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy.[3] Perkins died on November 7, 2020 after a stroke.[4][5]

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

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
William L. Swing
United States Ambassador to Liberia
1985–1986
Succeeded by
James Bishop
Preceded by
Herman W. Nickel
United States Ambassador to South Africa
1986–1989
Succeeded by
William L. Swing
Preceded by
George S. Vest
Director General of the Foreign Service
1989–1992
Succeeded by
Genta H. Holmes
Preceded by
Thomas R. Pickering
United States Ambassador to the United Nations
1992–1993
Succeeded by
Madeleine Albright
Preceded by
Mel Sembler
United States Ambassador to Australia
1993–1996
Succeeded by
Genta H. Holmes
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