Leonardo Neher
Encyclopedia
Leonardo Neher is an American diplomat. He was the United States Ambassador to Burkina Faso
from 1984 to 1987 (then the Republic of Upper Volta
).
with a B.A. in 1948 and the University of Chicago
with a M.A. in 1952. Neher served in the U.S. Army in 1943 and left in 1946. He was a personnel technician at the Department of the Navy from 1952 to 1954.
In 1954 he entered the U.S. Foreign Service as a consular officer in Turkey
. He was economic and political officer in Algeria from 1957 - 1961, commercial officer in South Vietnam
from 1962 to 1964 and in Syria
from 1964 to 1968. He was arms policy officer in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs in the State Department from 1966 to 1968. He was on detail to the Department of Defense as assistant, foreign military rights affairs, international security affairs, in 1968 - 1970. He was principal officer in Zaire
from 1970 to 1972, deputy chief of mission in Chad
from 1972 to 1974, and counselor for political affairs in the Dominican Republic
from 1974 to 1977). In 1977, he was on detail to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as assistant for plans and policies until 1979. In the State Department he was Staff Director of the Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service from 1979 to 1981, Inspector in the Office of the Inspector General in 1981, and Deputy Director of the Office of Analysis for Africa later on in 1981. In 1982, he was the Director of the Office of Analysis for Africa.
On June 18, 1984, he was nominated to be the United States Ambassador to Upper Volta
by President Ronald Reagan
while he was a resident in Maryland
. He remained in that post until August 1, 1987, where he was succeded by David H. Shinn
.
His foreign languages are Spanish
and French
.
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
from 1984 to 1987 (then the Republic of Upper Volta
Republic of Upper Volta
The Republic of Upper Volta was established on December 11, 1958, as a self-governing colony within the French Community. Before attaining autonomy it had been French Upper Volta and part of the French Union. On August 5, 1960 it attained full independence from France.Thomas Sankara came to power...
).
Biography
Neher was born on December 5, 1922, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Akron University from 1940 to 1941, and later graduated from Bowling Green State UniversityBowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
with a B.A. in 1948 and the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
with a M.A. in 1952. Neher served in the U.S. Army in 1943 and left in 1946. He was a personnel technician at the Department of the Navy from 1952 to 1954.
In 1954 he entered the U.S. Foreign Service as a consular officer in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. He was economic and political officer in Algeria from 1957 - 1961, commercial officer in South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
from 1962 to 1964 and in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
from 1964 to 1968. He was arms policy officer in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs in the State Department from 1966 to 1968. He was on detail to the Department of Defense as assistant, foreign military rights affairs, international security affairs, in 1968 - 1970. He was principal officer in Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
from 1970 to 1972, deputy chief of mission in Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
from 1972 to 1974, and counselor for political affairs in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
from 1974 to 1977). In 1977, he was on detail to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as assistant for plans and policies until 1979. In the State Department he was Staff Director of the Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service from 1979 to 1981, Inspector in the Office of the Inspector General in 1981, and Deputy Director of the Office of Analysis for Africa later on in 1981. In 1982, he was the Director of the Office of Analysis for Africa.
On June 18, 1984, he was nominated to be the United States Ambassador to Upper Volta
United States Ambassador to Burkina Faso
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Burkina Faso .Until 1960 Upper Volta was a French possession as a part of French West Africa...
by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
while he was a resident in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. He remained in that post until August 1, 1987, where he was succeded by David H. Shinn
David H. Shinn
David H. Shinn is an Adjunct Professor of International Affairs at The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs...
.
His foreign languages are Spanish
Spanish
Spanish may refer to:* Of or related to Spain* Spanish language, the official language of Spain and most of Latin America* Spanish people * The Spanish Empire, the empire administrated by Spain from the 15th century* Spanish cuisine...
and French
French
French is the adjective form of France and usually refers to:* Something of, from, or related to the nation of France** French culture** French cuisine** French people, inhabitants of France or people having family origins in France...
.