Edward William Gnehm Jr. (born November 10, 1944), also known as Skip Gnehm, is an American diplomat who most recently served as the U.S. ambassador to Jordan. He is now a faculty member at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs.[1]

Edward Gnehm
Gnehm in 2013
United States Ambassador to Jordan
In office
August 7, 2001 – July 12, 2004
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byWilliam J. Burns
Succeeded byDavid M. Satterfield
United States Ambassador to Australia
In office
2000–2001
PresidentBill Clinton
Preceded byGenta H. Holmes
Succeeded byThomas Schieffer
United States Ambassador to Kuwait
In office
1991–1994
PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush
Preceded byW. Nathaniel Howell
Succeeded byRyan Crocker
22nd Director General of the Foreign Service
In office
August 25, 1997 – June 14, 2000
Preceded byAnthony Cecil Eden Quainton
Succeeded byMarc Isaiah Grossman
Personal details
Born (1944-11-10) November 10, 1944 (age 79)
Carrollton, Georgia, U.S.
SpouseMargaret Scott
Alma materGeorge Washington University;
American University in Cairo
ProfessionDiplomat, professor

Education

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Gnehm attended Albany High School and subsequently attended the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a bachelor's degree in International Affairs in 1966. Gnehm completed his master's degree in 1968, and spent one year of his graduate studies at the American University in Cairo under a post-graduate Rotary International Fellowship. He is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and Delta Phi Epsilon (The National Professional Foreign Service Fraternity).[2]

Government service

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Gnehm joined the U.S. Department of State in 1969 and has forged a long and distinguished diplomatic career in the U.S. Foreign Service. His positions included: Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Personnel for the Department of State; Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Near East and South Asian Affairs; Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Near East and South Asia; Deputy Chief of Mission, American Embassy, Amman, Jordan, and Embassy Sanaa, Yemen; head of the U.S. Liaison Office, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Deputy Principal Officer, U.S. Interests Section, Damascus, Syria.

He was Ambassador to Kuwait from 1991 to 1994; Ambassador to Australia from 2000 to 2001; and Ambassador to Jordan from 2001 to 2004.[3]

George Washington University

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Throughout his career, Gnehm has remained active at George Washington, having served both on the Board of Trustees, and as the vice president of the George Washington Alumni Association. Gnehm won the 2015 Harry Harding Teaching Award "for sustained excellence in teaching and extraordinary contributions to the education of Elliott School students." Continuing in the family tradition, Gnehm's son Edward attended George Washington University where he received his BA and an MBA.

Awards

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  • 1990 – Presidential Meritorious Service Award for public service as Assistant Secretary of Defense
  • 1991 – Presidential Meritorious Service Award for service as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
  • 1992 – Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, The George Washington University
  • Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service – awarded by Secretary of Defense Carlucci for service in the office of the Secretary of Defense
  • Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service – awarded by Secretary of Defense Perry for support to U.S. forces during and after Desert Storm.

Personal life

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Gnehm is married to the former Margaret Scott of Macon, Georgia. They have two children, Cheryl and Edward III.

Affiliations

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References

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  1. ^ "Edward W. Gnehm Jr". George Washington University. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  2. ^ Eta Chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon, The National Professional Foreign Service Fraternity. http://deltaphiepsilon.net/Chapt[permanent dead link]ers/Eta/Eta_V_Directory.html
  3. ^ "The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project AMBASSADOR EDWARD W. GNEHM, JR" (PDF). Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. May 22, 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 18, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  4. ^ "Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm, Jr". Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. March 12, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
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Diplomatic posts
Preceded by U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait
1991–1994
Succeeded by
Preceded by U.S. Ambassador to Australia
2000–2001
Succeeded by
Preceded by U.S. Ambassador to Jordan
2001–2004
Succeeded by