April 21, 1983
The President today announced his intention to nominate Richard Lee Armitage to be an Assistant
Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs). He would succeed Frances J. West.
Since 1981 Mr. Armitage has been serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
(International Security Affairs for East Asia and Pacific Affairs). Previously he was administrative
assistant to Senator Robert Dole (R-Kans.) in 1978 - 1979; partner, SEA-THAI, Ltd., an
import-export business in Bangkok, in 1976 - 1978; senior management consultant to the
Department of Defense in 1975 - 1976; and an adviser to the U.S. Defense Attache Office in
Saigon in 1973 - 1975.
Mr. Armitage graduated from the United States Naval Academy (B.S., 1967). He was initially
assigned to a U.S. Navy destroyer engaged in operations off the coast of Vietnam and
subsequently served three in-country tours in Vietnam and an assignment as an instructor at the
Naval Amphibious School. He resigned from the Navy in 1973.
Mr. Armitage is married, has six children, and resides in Fairfax, Va. He was born April 26, 1945,
in Boston, Mass.