James D. BINDENAGEL Mr. Bindenagel was appointed in July 1999 Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues, with the rank of ambassador.

Born on June 30, 1949 in Huron, South Dakota. He holds a B.A. Degree in political science (1971) and a master's degree in public administration (1977) both from the University of Illinois, Urbana. He speaks fluent German. 1972-1974 U.S. Army Officer, Würzburg 1975-1977 Seoul, Korea 1977-1979 U.S. Consul, Bremen 1980-1983 German desk officer 1983-1986 Political Officer, Bonn 1986-1987 Senior Watch Officer, Operations Centre 1987-1988 American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow with Congressman Lee H. Hamilton 1988-1989 Acting director of Canadian Affairs 1989-1990 Deputy American Ambassador in the German Democratic Republic 1991-1992 Rockwell International business exchange executive 1992-1994 State Department Central European Director 1994-1996 Deputy Ambassador to Germany 1996-1997 Acting American Ambassador to Germany 1997-1998 German Marshall Fund of the U.S., where he worked to promote closer transatlantic relations. Mr. Bindenagel helped negotiate a $5 billion settlement for former World War II slave and forced labourers as part of Deputy Treasury Secretary Eizenstat's team.