Appointment of William J. Burns as a Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

The President today announced the appointment of William J. Burns as Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and Senior Director for Near East and South Asian Affairs.

Mr. Burns, a career Foreign Service officer, has served on the National Security Council staff since 1986. His previous assignments include special assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State, staff assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near East and South Asian Affairs, and political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan.

Mr. Burns graduated from LaSalle College and holds a doctorate in international relations from Oxford University. He was born April 4, 1956, in Fort Bragg, NC. Mr. Burns is married and resides in Washington, DC.