Accordance of the Personal Rank of Ambassador to Richard J. Smith While Serving as Special Negotiator for Acid Rain Talks With Canada

The President today accorded the personal rank of Ambassador to Richard J. Smith in his capacity as Special Negotiator for Acid Rain Talks With Canada.

Mr. Smith has served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the Department of State in Washington, DC, 1985 - 1989. Prior to this, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Finance and Development in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, 1983 - 1985; deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, 1980 - 1983; country director for Canada at the Department of State, 1978 - 1980; member of senior seminar in national and international affairs, 1977 - 1978; Director of the Office of Investment Affairs, 1974 - 1977; and Deputy Director of the Office of International Marketing at the Department of Commerce, 1971 - 1973. In addition, Mr. Smith has served as a financial economist in the Office of Monetary Affairs at the Department of State, 1971; second secretary in Stockholm, Sweden, 1968 - 1970; assigned to the University of Michigan, 1967 - 1968; South Africa desk officer at the Department of Commerce, 1965 - 1967; vice consul in Nagoya, Japan, 1963 - 1965; and Foreign Service officer, 1962 to present.

Mr. Smith received a bachelor of science degree and a master of arts degree from the University of Connecticut and a master of arts degree in economics from the University of Michigan. He was born February 28, 1932, in Hartford, CT. Mr. Smith is married, has three children, and resides in McLean, VA.