Nicholas Alexander

October 28, 1928

Oakland, California , United States

He served as United States Ambassador to Jordan (1978-1981) and Egypt (1984-1986). He had a sister, Dorothy,and an older brother the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Johnny Otis. He served in the United States. Army from 1946 to 1948 and then went on to graduate from the University of California Berkley (Bachelor, 1952. Master of Arts, 1954) where he played football and rugby. Veliotes joined the United States. Foreign Service in 1955. He served as consular officer in Naples in 1955-1957 and economic officer in Rome in 1957-1960 before returning to the United States. to work in the Secretariat and then in the Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs from 1962 to 1964. He then served as political officer New Delhi (1964-1966) and Vientiane (1966-1969) before being selected as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at Princeton University in 1969. Ambassador Veliotes was Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State (1970-1973), then served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Tel Aviv, returning to the Department of State as Deputy Director of the Policy Planning Staff (1976-1977) and then Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (1977-1978). He was Ambassador to Jordan (1978-1981) and Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (1981-1984). He then served as Ambassador to Egypt until his retirement from the Foreign Service in April, 1986. In May, 1986, Veliotes became President of the Association of American Publishers and retired as President Emeritus in June, 1997. He currently serves on the boards of Amideast and the American Academy of Diplomacy, as well as Chairman for the Hollings Center for International Dialogue.

Nicholas Alexander

Edit Profile

Diplomat

Background

Veliotes was born in Oakland, California, on October 28, 1928, to Greek immigrants Alexander J. Veliotes, a Mare Island longshoreman and grocery store owner, and his wife, the former Irene Kiskakes, a painter.

Career

He served as United States Ambassador to Jordan (1978-1981) and Egypt (1984-1986). He had a sister, Dorothy,and an older brother the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Johnny Otis. He served in the United States. Army from 1946 to 1948 and then went on to graduate from the University of California Berkley (Bachelor, 1952.

Master of Arts, 1954) where he played football and rugby.

Veliotes joined the United States. Foreign Service in 1955. He served as consular officer in Naples in 1955-1957 and economic officer in Rome in 1957-1960 before returning to the United States. to work in the Secretariat and then in the Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs from 1962 to 1964.

He then served as political officer New Delhi (1964-1966) and Vientiane (1966-1969) before being selected as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at Princeton University in 1969. Ambassador Veliotes was Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State (1970-1973), then served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Tel Aviv, returning to the Department of State as Deputy Director of the Policy Planning Staff (1976-1977) and then Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (1977-1978).

He was Ambassador to Jordan (1978-1981) and Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (1981-1984).

He then served as Ambassador to Egypt until his retirement from the Foreign Service in April, 1986. In May, 1986, Veliotes became President of the Association of American Publishers and retired as President Emeritus in June, 1997. He currently serves on the boards of Amideast and the American Academy of Diplomacy, as well as Chairman for the Hollings Center for International Dialogue.

Achievements

Veliotes has received the Glen T. Seaborg Award (the equivalent of a lifetime achievement award for former Cal football alumni), the B"nai Brith "Faith of Our Fathers" Award for contributions to peace in the Middle East, a number of Presidential and Departmental Honor Awards, and also the "Chevalier del Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" Award from the French Government for outstanding services to international publishers.

Membership

He is a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy and Council on Foreign Relations. He is also a member of the Middle East Institute, Foundation for Middle East Peace, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Main Photo