14 Facts About Chester Crocker

Chester Arthur Crocker was born on October 29,1941 and is an American diplomat and scholar who served as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from June 9,1981, to April 21,1989, in the Reagan administration.

Chester Crocker attended Ohio State University and graduated with distinction in History in 1963.

Chester Crocker obtained a master's degree at Johns Hopkins University in 1965, followed by a Ph.

From 1969 to 1970, Chester Crocker was a lecturer in African government and politics at the American University in Washington, DC He was recruited to join the National Security Council by Henry Kissinger in 1970, but returned to academia in 1972 as director of the Master of Science in Foreign Service program at Georgetown University, where he lectured in African politics and international relations.

Chester Crocker's policy linked the removal of South African forces from Namibia with the removal of Cuban forces from Angola, which many US diplomats considered to be of vital importance.

Undeterred, Chester Crocker continued to insist that a comprehensive solution was the only way to allay the fears on both sides.

In May 1989 Chester Crocker stepped down as Assistant Secretary of State and returned to academia at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.

From 1969 to 1970 Chester Crocker was professional lecturer in African government and politics at the American University, before he left to join the National Security Council staff.

Chester Crocker returned to academia in 1972, as director of the Master of Science in Foreign Service program at Georgetown University, a position he held until 1978.

Chester Crocker held several other professorial roles, including director of African studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and James R Schlesinger Professor in the Practice of Strategic Studies at Georgetown University.

Chester Crocker held the position of chairman of the board from 1992 to 2004, after which Crocker continued on as a board member until 2011.

Chester Crocker is a member of the Global Leadership Foundation, an independent, non-profit organisation which lends the expertise of established diplomats and world leaders to current governments.

Chester Crocker married Saone Barren with whom he had three daughters.

In 1992, Chester Crocker was awarded an honorary doctorate from Rhodes University.