THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                         (Roseville, Michigan)
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                     April 16, 1999

                  PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES FRANK ALMAGUER
              AS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS

The President announced today his intent to nominate Frank Almaguer to be U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Honduras.

Mr. Frank Almaguer, of Vienna, Virginia, and a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, has been with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) since 1979. Since 1996, he has served as USAID Mission Director in Bolivia, managing one of the Agency's largest overseas programs. Prior to his current posting, Mr. Almaguer served as USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Human Resources and Director of Personnel from 1993 to 1996 and Mission Director for the Regional Mission for Europe from 1991 to 1993. Mr. Almaguer's experience in Latin America, both with USAID and the Peace Corps, is extensive. He served as USAID Mission Director in Ecuador from 1986 to 1990; Director of USAID's Office of South American and Mexican Affairs from 1983 to 1986; Deputy USAID Director in Panama from 1979 to 1983; Peace Corps Country Director in Honduras from 1976 to 1979; and Associate Peace Corps Director in Belize from 1974 to 1976. He also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Belize from 1967 to 1969.

Mr. Almaguer holds a B.A. degree in Political Science from the University of Florida (1967) and a master's degree in administration from the George Washington University (1974). In 1996, the American University awarded him the Roger W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership. Over a long career in public service, he a received numerous other awards, including a Distinguished Honor Award and a Presidential Meritorious Award. Mr. Almaguer was born in Cuba and grew up in Miami.

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