For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 11, 2001

President Bush to Nominate Hooks to be Ambassador of the United States to Congo

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate Aubrey Hooks to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Democratic Republic of Congo.  A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, he is presently the Special Coordinator for the African Response Initiative.  From 1996 to 1999, Hooks served as Ambassador to the Congo and concurrently, after the Embassy in Brazzaville had closed due to security concerns, became Charge d'Affairs in the Central African Republic from 1998 to 1999.  He has served in a variety of positions both overseas and in Washington, D.C.  He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and received a M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.

###