United States Mission to the OSCE

Stephan M. Minikes

United States Ambassador to the OSCE

Stephan M. Minikes was nominated by President Bush, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and on November 29, 2001, was sworn in by Secretary of State Colin Powell as United States Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He assumed his duties in Vienna on December 4, 2001.

Mr. Minikes was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1938, and survived WWII there. He lived in Berlin through the Allied Victory and the Blockade, immigrating to the United States in 1949. He has traveled extensively in Europe and is a life-long student of European affairs. He remains fluent in German.

Prior to his nomination and confirmation as U.S. Ambassador, Mr. Minikes was a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of the law firm of Thelen Reid & Priest LLP. He was chairman of Thelen Reid's Government Affairs Department and previously served as the managing partner of the Washington office and a member of the Firm's management Board. In addition to its Washington office, the firm has offices in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Silicon Valley. Prior to joining Thelen Reid in 1984, Mr. Minikes established the Washington office of the Houston, Texas law firm of Butler & Binion in 1977, and served as that office's managing partner throughout his tenure with the firm.

Mr. Minikes' law practice consisted primarily of representing corporations, trade associations, cities, and other governmental entities in matters involving national defense, transportation, government procurement, infrastructure development, international trade and agriculture. He is a well-known member of the Washington legal community and is recognized for his extensive knowledge of administrative law, the Executive Branch and Congress.

In 1974, the late William J. Casey asked Mr. Minikes to join him as senior vice president and a member of the management committee of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Mr. Minikes served in those capacities until 1977.

From 1972 to 1974, Mr. Minikes served in the Pentagon as legal counsel to the Chief of Naval Operations, the late Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr., and as a member of his senior advisory staff. During his tenure at the Pentagon, he had a period of service in the White House as counsel to Charles J. DiBona, Special Consultant to the President for Energy, to develop a national energy policy.

Before joining the Department of Defense in 1972, Mr. Minikes was a corporate, securities and banking lawyer in New York City. He represented underwriters, financial institutions, and public and closely-held corporations on corporate, securities law and financing matters. In those capacities, he prepared registration statements, proxy statements, complex loan agreements and other documentation for business transactions.

Mr. Minikes has lectured on foreign policy, national defense and security, democracy and human rights, energy, international trade and finance, and government procurement matters. He is a 1961 graduate of Cornell University and a 1964 graduate of the Yale Law School. He is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia, the State of New York, the U.S. Supreme Court and various Federal courts, and a member of the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the American Society of International Law and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.

Mr. Minikes has served as a director of the Washington Opera at the Kennedy Center, a member of the Executive Committee of the Yale Law School and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Council on Germany. He has received numerous awards for his professional and civic work and is listed in Who's Who in America.

Printer friendly versions in English:

Printer friendly versions auf Deutsch:

U.S. Mission to the OSCE
Office of the Public Affairs Advisor

Obersteinergasse 11/1

1190

Vienna, Austria

e-mail: press@usosce.at

Tel: (+43-1) 31339-3421

Fax: (+43-1) 368-6358

This Web site is maintained by the U.S. Mission to the OSCE Public Affairs Office. Links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein. Privacy Act Notice/Disclaimers