Pete Peterson

Pete Peterson
Pete Peterson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 2nd district
In office
January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997
Preceded by Bill Grant
Succeeded by Allen Boyd
Personal details
Born June 26, 1935 (1935-06-26) (age 76)
Omaha, Nebraska
Political party Democratic
Military service
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service 1954–1980
Rank Major
Unit 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Awards Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Purple Heart
Prisoner of War Medal

Douglas Brian "Pete" Peterson (born June 26, 1935, Omaha, Nebraska) was a U.S. Air Force pilot who spent over six years as a prisoner of the North Vietnamese Army after his plane was shot down during the Vietnam War. He returned to Hanoi in 1997 as the first United States Ambassador to Vietnam. He was an ambassador until 2001, after which he devoted himself to philanthropic work.

Contents

Biography

Education, military service

Peterson grew up in Milton, Iowa and attended college at the University of Tampa. He joined the Air Force and served in Vietnam, where his F4 Phantom was shot down on September 10, 1966. He spent six years in prison, a period he described as "hours and hours of boredom, spliced with moments of stark terror."[1] He was released March 4, 1973.

Academic, political career

After the war ended, Peterson entered Central Michigan University in order to earn his Ph.D in finance. He later taught the subject as a professor at Florida State University.

In 1990, Peterson ran as a Democrat for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in Florida's 2nd congressional district. He successfully defeated James W. Grant, a politician who grew unpopular after switching from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in the middle of his second term.

He declined to run for a fourth term (he was succeeded by Allen Boyd), in 1997 was asked by President Bill Clinton to become the United States's first post-war ambassador to Vietnam.[1] One of his goals was securing an account of those still listed as missing in action from the war and so helping to resolve the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue.

In 1995, his first wife had died, and two weeks after his installation in Hanoi met Vi Le, Australia's senior trade commissioner, born in Vietnam, whom he married. In 1999, he moved to Melbourne so they could be closer to her family.[1] On November 17, 2000, he was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Clinton.

Philanthropy, business

Since retiring as ambassador, Peterson founded The Alliance for Safe Children, TASC, which aims to lower preventable injuries to children worldwide, and focuses specifically on such issues as drowning in Asia.[2] With his wife he started a company whose aim it is to promote American business in Southeast Asia.[3]

In 2009, Peterson acquired Australian citizenship.[1]

Peterson is a Senior Director for Albright Stonebridge Group, an international strategic consulting firm.

References

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Bill Grant
U.S. Representative
Florida's 2nd congressional district

1991–1997
Succeeded by
Allen Boyd
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
new office
United States Ambassador to Vietnam
1997–2001
Succeeded by
Raymond Burghardt

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Pete Peterson — Douglas Brian „Pete“ Peterson (* 26. Juni 1935 in Omaha, Nebraska) ist ein US amerikanischer Politiker. Zwischen 1991 und 1997 vertrat er den Bundesstaat Florida im US Repräsentantenhaus. Werdegang Pete Peterson besuchte bis 1953 die Milton… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Pete Peterson (baseball) — Harding William Pete Peterson (born October 17, 1929 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey) is an American retired catcher and general manager in Major League Baseball. He is the father of former New York Mets and Oakland Athletics pitching coach Rick… …   Wikipedia

  • Peterson — ist ein Familienname. Herkunft und Bedeutung Der Name ist ein Patronym und bedeutet Sohn des Peter. Bekannte Namensträger Inhaltsverzeichnis A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Peterson (name) — Family name name = Peterson imagesize= caption= pronunciation = PE ter son meaning = son of Peter region = origin = Biblical related names = Petersen footnotes = Peterson is a common English language patronymic surname, meaning son of Peter .… …   Wikipedia

  • Peterson Toscano — (* 17. Februar 1965 in Stamford (Connecticut)) ist ein US amerikanischer Lehrer, Theaterautor und Schauspieler. Er nimmt eine führende Rolle in der Bewegung der Ex Gay Überlebenden ein …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Pete Mickeal — Fiche d’identité …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Pete Wentz — (* 5. Juni 1979 in Wilmette, Cook County, Illinois, als Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz III) war der Bassist und Songwriter der US amerikanischen Alternative Rock Band Fall Out Boy …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Pete Jarman — Peterson Bryant (Pete) Jarman (* 31. Oktober 1892 in Greensboro, Alabama; † 17. Februar 1955 in Washington D.C.) war ein US amerikanischer Offizier und Politiker (Demokratische Partei). Werdegang Pete Jarman besuchte eine öffentliche Schule, das… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Pete McCaffrey — Fiche d’identité Nom complet John Paul McCaffrey Nationalité …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Pete Jarman — Peterson Bryant (Pete) Jarman (October 31, 1892 February 17, 1955) was a U.S. Representative from Alabama.Early lifeBorn in Greensboro, Alabama, Jarman attended the public schools, the Normal College, Livingston, Alabama, and Southern University …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”