WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has named Barry Lowenkron, assistant secretary for democracy, human rights, and labor, as her ex-officio designee to the Board of Directors of the U.S. Institute of Peace. In her letter to Institute President Richard Solomon announcing the designation, Secretary Rice expressed her wish to "maintain the close relationship that exists between the Institute and the Department of State." She called the Institute "one of the best organizations for the prevention, management, and resolution of international conflict and postconflict reconstruction."

"We are honored to have Barry on our Board. The Institute will benefit from his wide range of experiences in the government and academia, on national security as well as foreign policy issues," said Institute President Richard Solomon.

As a member of the board, Lowenkron will actively oversee Institute activities--setting long-term goals and priorities for the Institute as well as monitoring financial, administrative, and personnel policies. The board approves major new program initiatives and makes final decisions in the selection of Institute grantees, fellows, and winners of the National Peace Essay Contest for high school students.

The Board of Directors is composed of twelve members from outside federal service appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate, and four ex-officio members: the secretary of state (who may designate another Senate-confirmed State Department official), the secretary of defense (who may designate another Senate-confirmed Defense Department official), the president of the National Defense University (who may designate the vice president of the National Defense University), and the president of the Institute (nonvoting). The board is prohibited by law from having more than eight voting members of the same political party.

For more information, please contact Iris Pilika in the Office of Public Affairs and Communications at (202) 429-3828 or at ipilika@usip.org.