Nomination of Roman Popadiuk To Be United States Ambassador to Ukraine

The President today announced his nomination of Roman Popadiuk, of New York, a career member of the Foreign Service, to be Ambassador to Ukraine.

In January 1989, the President appointed Mr. Popadiuk to be Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs, a position he holds to date. In President Reagan's administration, Mr. Popadiuk served as an Assistant Press Secretary from July 1986 until March 1988, when he became Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs. In October of that year, the President appointed him a Deputy Assistant.

Mr. Popadiuk has been a career Foreign Service officer since 1981. He served in Mexico City from 1982 to 1984, where he did consular and political work and was special assistant to the Ambassador. From 1984 to 1986, he had a tour with the Department of State and the National Security Council. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he was an adjunct lecturer in political science at Brooklyn College in New York City. Mr. Popadiuk was awarded the Meritorious Honor Award in 1987 and the Superior Honor Award in 1992 by the U.S. Department of State. In 1991, Mr. Popadiuk received the "Ukrainian of the Year" annual achievement award from the Ukrainian Institute of America, Inc.

Mr. Popadiuk was born in Austria on May 30, 1950. He graduated from Hunter College (B.A., 1973) and City University of New York (Ph.D., 1980). He is married to the former Judith Ann Fedkiw. They have four children and reside in Bethesda, MD.