US Appoints Gulf War Diplomat As Ambassador To Brunei

Bandar Seri Begawan - A US diplomat serving in Kuwait and Iraq during the Gulf War in 1990 has been appointed as the American ambassador to Brunei Darussalam.

The new US ambassador, Emil Skodon, was also in the Pentagon during the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 and later helped coordinate diplomatic and military actions in the war on terrorism

According to a press release from the US Embassy in Brunei, Mr Skodon, a Minister-Counselor in the Senior Foreign Service was nominated by President Bush April 14, 2005 as the next US Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam. Mr Skodon arrives today to commence his term of appointment in Brunei Darussalam and will provide his credentials in the near future.

Mr Skodon was Counselor for Economic Affairs at the American Embassy in Kuwait from 1989 to 1991, and was in Kuwait when Iraq invaded in August 1990.

After Iraqi authorities reneged on their promise of safe passage for an evacuation convoy led by Mr Skodon and prevented US diplomats from leaving Iraq, he served as Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Baghdad. Mr Skodon departed Iraq in December 1990 after US hostages were released.

According to the press release, a native of Chicago, Illinois, Mr Skodon had been Deputy Chief of Mission at, the American Embassy in Rome, Italy, since August of 2002.

Prior to his Rome assignment, he was detailed to the US Air Force as Foreign Policy Advisor to the USAF Chief of Staff.

He was in the Pentagon during the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, and later helped coordinate diplomatic and military actions in the war on terrorism.

He also served as Director of the State Department Office of Australian, New Zealand, and Pacific Island Affairs from 1998 to 2000, Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Singapore from 1995 to 1998, and United States Consul General in Perth, Australia from 1991 to 1995.

The press release said Mr Skodon was also assigned to the economic sections of US embassies in Vienna (198488) and East Berlin (1979-81).

He served in'the State Department Office of Southern African Affairs (1982-84) and at the US Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados (1977-78). He has received several State Department Superior Honor and Meritorious Honor awards.

He was awarded the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal by the US Army in recognition of his work as Deputy Chief of Mission in Rome, and the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service by the US Air Force for his contributions to Air Force operations during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Mr Skodon holds BA and MBA degrees from the University of Chicago, and has studied German, Arabic, and Italian at the Foreign Service Institute.

He is a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He is married and has two daughters. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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