Appointment of Eugene Kistler Lawson as United States Representative on the Governing Body of the International Labor Office

The President today announced the appointment of Eugene Kistler Lawson, of the District of Columbia, as the U.S. Representative on the Governing Body of the International Labor Office. He would succeed Robert W. Searby. The President also accorded the personal rank of Ambassador to Dr. Lawson in his capacity as Chairman of the U.S. delegation to the 1988 International Labor Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

Mr. Lawson is presently Deputy Under Secretary of Labor for International Affairs. From 1984 to 1988, he was an executive director in the Washington office of Russell Reynolds Associates, Inc. From 1982 to 1984, he was Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asia and the Pacific, and from 1981 to 1982, Deputy Assistant Secretary for East-West Trade at the Department of Commerce. Dr. Lawson founded and served as executive director of the China Advisory Group at the Government Research Corp./ National Journal, 1980-1981. In 1977-1980, he was at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University as the director of the master of science in foreign service program, director of the program for China studies, and professional lecturer on Chinese foreign policy. Dr. Lawson has also served with the Department of State, where he was Deputy Director, Office of Special Bilateral Affairs, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, 1975-1977; and between 1969 and 1972, served as junior staff assistant, senior staff assistant, acting special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, and desk officer for the China desk.

Dr. Lawson was born December 10, 1939, in Tulsa, OK. He received his A.B. (1961) from Princeton University and his M.A. (1967) and Ph.D. (1982) from Columbia University. He served in the U.S. Navy, 1961-1963. Mr. Lawson is married, has three children, and resides in Washington, DC.