Eric D. Newsom
Encyclopedia
Eric David Newsom is a United States
diplomat
and State Department
official.
, but mainly raised in Modesto, California
. He graduated from Modesto High School
in 1961. After high school, he attended the University of California, Berkeley
, receiving a B.A.
in History
in 1965, and an M.A.
in Modern European History in 1967.
Newsom joined the United States Foreign Service
in October 1967. As a Foreign Service Officer
, he served as Vice Consul
in Montevideo
, Uruguay
; Special Assistant to the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
; on the staff of the Office of the Secretary of State
; Special Assistant to the Director for nuclear policy issues in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
; and Deputy Director—for six months, Acting Director—of the Office of International Security Policy.
Newsom left the Foreign Service in July 1979, at which time he became a professional staff member for national security affairs with the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
.
From February 1981 to August 1982, Newsom worked with former United States Secretary of State
Cyrus Vance
in the preparation of his memoirs.
In August 1982, Newsom became a professional staff member of the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
. From 1985 to 1987, he was the committee's Minority Staff Director. In January 1989, he became the Staff Director of the United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
, a position he held until March 1994.
In 1994, Newsom became Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs
. In 1998, President of the United States
Bill Clinton
nominated Newsom as Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs
. After Senate confirmation
, Newsom held this office from November 2, 1998 until December 31, 2000.
Upon retiring from government service effective December 31, 2000, Newsom joined the foreign policy and defense consulting firm of Collins and Company as Vice President for International Business.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
official.
Biography
Eric D. Newsom was born in OklahomaOklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, but mainly raised in Modesto, California
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
. He graduated from Modesto High School
Modesto High School
Modesto High School is a high school in Modesto, California, U.S.A. It offers the International Baccalaureate Program, and was the first public school to do so in the Central Valley of California.Modesto High School is the oldest high school in Modesto....
in 1961. After high school, he attended the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, receiving a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
in 1965, and an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Modern European History in 1967.
Newsom joined the United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
in October 1967. As a Foreign Service Officer
Foreign Service Officer
A Foreign Service Officer is a commissioned member of the United States Foreign Service. As diplomats, Foreign Service Officers formulate and implement the foreign policy of the United States. FSOs spend most of their careers overseas as members of U.S. embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic...
, he served as Vice Consul
Vice Consul
A vice consul is a subordinate officer, authorized to exercise consular functions in some particular part of a district controlled by a consulate....
in Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
; Special Assistant to the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
The office of United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom was traditionally, and still is very much so today due to the Special Relationship, the most prestigious position in the United States Foreign Service...
; on the staff of the Office of the Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
; Special Assistant to the Director for nuclear policy issues in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs is an agency within the United States Department of State that bridges the Department of State with the Department of Defense. It provides policy in the areas of international security, security assistance, military operations, defense strategy and policy,...
; and Deputy Director—for six months, Acting Director—of the Office of International Security Policy.
Newsom left the Foreign Service in July 1979, at which time he became a professional staff member for national security affairs with the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is a standing committee of the United States Senate. It is charged with leading foreign-policy legislation and debate in the Senate. The Foreign Relations Committee is generally responsible for overseeing and funding foreign aid programs as...
.
From February 1981 to August 1982, Newsom worked with former United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Cyrus Vance
Cyrus Vance
Cyrus Roberts Vance was an American lawyer and United States Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1980...
in the preparation of his memoirs.
In August 1982, Newsom became a professional staff member of the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
The United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is dedicated to overseeing the United States Intelligence Community—the agencies and bureaus of the federal government of the United States who provide information and analysis for leaders of the executive and legislative branches. The...
. From 1985 to 1987, he was the committee's Minority Staff Director. In January 1989, he became the Staff Director of the United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs is one of twelve subcommittees of the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations.-Jurisdiction:...
, a position he held until March 1994.
In 1994, Newsom became Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs is a position within the American Department of State that manages the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, charged with linking the Department of Defense and the Department of State by providing policy in the areas of international...
. In 1998, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
nominated Newsom as Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs is a position within the American Department of State that manages the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, charged with linking the Department of Defense and the Department of State by providing policy in the areas of international...
. After Senate confirmation
Advise and Consent
Advise and Consent is a 1959 political novel by Allen Drury that explores the United States Senate confirmation of controversial Secretary of State nominee Robert Leffingwell who is a former member of the Communist Party...
, Newsom held this office from November 2, 1998 until December 31, 2000.
Upon retiring from government service effective December 31, 2000, Newsom joined the foreign policy and defense consulting firm of Collins and Company as Vice President for International Business.