THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

THE PRESIDENT ACCORDS PERSONAL RANK OF AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR MILITARY STABILIZATION IN THE BALKANS

The President today accorded the Personal Rank of Ambassador to James W. Pardew, Jr. of Springfield, Virginia, in his capacity as U.S. Special Representative for Military Stabilization in the Balkans.

Ambassador Pardew was appointed U.S. Special Representative in December of 1995, following service as the Secretary of Defense Representative to the U.S. peace negotiating team which achieved the Dayton Peace Agreement in the Former Yugoslavia. Before joining Ambassador Holbrooke on the negotiating team, he was director of the Balkan task force in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Ambassador Pardew's military experience includes service as the Vice Director for Intelligence, J-2, Joint Staff, and Director of Foreign Intelligence on the Army General Staff. He is a Vietnam veteran and also served in Operation RESTORE HOPE in Somalia. Other foreign assignments include tours in Turkey, Japan and two tours in Germany.

He is the recipient of the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Award, the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Civilian Service and the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal. His military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (2), and the Bronze Star (2).

Born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1944, Ambassador Pardew is a native of Jonesboro, Arkansas. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Arkansas State University and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Loyola University of Chicago. He completed service in the U.S. Army in 1994 with the rank of Colonel.

Ambassador Pardew and his wife Kathy have three sons; Paul is a U.S. Army Captain, Jon is a U.S. Army Lieutenant, and David is a high school senior.

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