J. William Middendorf

In 1969, J. William Middendorf left an investment banking career to become the US Ambassador to the Netherlands, a post he held until 1973. He was named Secretary of the Navy in 1974 after serving nine months as its Under Secretary. From 1977-1981, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of First American Bankshares, Inc., a bank holding company based in Washington. In 1981, he was appointed United States Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States. In 1985, Ambassador Middendorf was named the US Representative to the European Communities (now known as the European Union) and the same year President Reagan appointed him Chairman of the White House Task Force on Project Economic Justice. He has received decorations from The Netherlands, Brazil, and Egypt, as well as the Defense and State Departments.