He arrived at AID at a time when millions of people throughout the developing world were threatened by incredible hardship brought on by famine and warfare. He embarked on a career concentrating on the most important element of our foreign assistance program: saving lives and alleviating the suffering of disaster and war victims throughout the developing world. In this regard. he quickly moved up the ranks. initially serving as the Principal Assistant to the Presidents Special Coordinator on International Disaster Assistance and subsequently as the chief operating officer of AIDs International Disaster Relief Program and finally as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Refugee Programs. During this period. he personally conducted onsite assessments in some of the most devastated regions of the developing world. including war zones of East Timor. the ThaiCambodian border. and Ethiopia. earthquake stricken regions of Central America. and the drought devastated Sahel area. As a result of his work. he has bettered the lives of millions of people throughout the developing world. -In 1981. he turnedhis impressive managerial talents to helping our Nation organize an entirely new program targeted at both opening up export markets in the developing world and in fostering economic development.