U.S. Chamber Names Senior State Department Official to Vice President for National Security Affairs Post

WASHINGTON, DC—The United States Chamber of Commerce today announced its appointment of Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Eric D. Newsom as Vice President for National Security Affairs at the Chamber. In the newly created post, Newsom will work with U.S. businesses, Congress and the new administration to address the full range of civilian and military security policies of growing relevance to the business community.

"Newsom will bring a wealth of experience to the Chamber at a critical time," said Amb. Craig Johnstone, Chamber Senior Vice President for International, Economic and National Security Affairs. "The incoming Bush administration, Congress and the business community will be focusing on ways to ensure that resources are available to maintain military readiness, ensure international engagement and carry out preventive diplomacy."

At the Chamber, Newsom will play a critical role in developing Chamber policy on international critical infrastructure and cyber-security, having served as the U.S. government's point-person on international cyber-security issues critical to e-businesses. He also will work with the defense industry, the U.S. Department of Defense and other government agencies on national security issues, and with the Coast Guard on its deep water project, to craft Chamber policy on defense readiness and the defense budget. Furthermore, Newsom will manage the Chamber's partnership with the Department of Defense on military quality-of-life issues and lead a campaign to reform the antiquated export-control process.

Newsom assumes his new post January 2 upon retiring from a 30-year government service career. As Assistant Secretary of State, he has served as principal adviser to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on security policy and military affairs. Newsom also was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and a Foreign Service Officer, and served 14 years in the U.S Senate as a professional staff member on the Foreign Relations, Intelligence and Appropriations Committees.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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