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Picture of Richard A. BoucherBIOGRAPHY

Richard A. Boucher
Department Spokesman and Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs
Term of Appointment: 05/01/2000 to present

Richard A. Boucher has served as Spokesman or Deputy Spokesman for the State Department under five Secretaries of State and as Chief of Mission two times over the course of his career, in addition to other posts both abroad and in Washington.  He is a senior Foreign Service Officer with the rank of Career Minister.

Ambassador Boucher began his most recent assignment as Spokesman for the State Department in May 2000 under Secretary Albright and has continued to serve as Spokesman for Secretary Powell. Beginning in March 1989, Amb. Boucher served as the Department's Deputy Press Spokesman under Secretary Baker and in August 1992 he became the Department's Spokesman under Secretary Eagleburger. He continued to serve as the Department's Spokesman at Secretary Christopher's request until June 1993.

On June 13, 2000, Amb. Boucher was also named Acting Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs. He was confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs on December 15, 2000 and attested by the President on December 28, 2000, a position that he continues to hold. 

Prior to this assignment, from July 1999 to April 2000 Amb. Boucher served as U.S. Senior Official for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Amb. Boucher was twice Chief of Mission at U.S. diplomatic posts overseas. From 1996 to 1999, he headed the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong as Consul General and from October 1993 to June 1996 he served as U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus.

Amb. Boucher is a career Foreign Service Officer. He entered the Foreign Service in 1977, serving in Taiwan, Guangzhou, the State Department's Economic Bureau, and the China Desk. He returned to China from 1984 to 1986 as Deputy Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai. Upon his return to Washington in July 1986, he served in the State Department's Operations Center and as Deputy Director of the Office of European Security and Political Affairs.

Amb. Boucher was born in Bethesda, Maryland. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in 1973 from Tufts University and did graduate work in economics at George Washington University. He speaks French and Chinese.
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Released on October 29, 2001

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