John Scanlan

John D. (Jack) Scanlan is a 1945 graduate of Lincoln High School and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in History and an M.A. in Russian Area Studies.  He joined the Foreign Service of the United States by competitive examination in 1956.  During his 35 years as a diplomat at the height of the cold war, he became a leading specialist in Soviet and East European affairs, Warsaw, Belgrade, Montevideo, and in high-level positions in the Department of State dealing with Soviet and East European affairs.

     Scanlan was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of State with responsibility for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe 1981-1982, Ambassador-designate to Poland 1982-1985, Ambassador to Yugoslavia 1985-1989 and Deputy Commandant of the U.S Army War College 1989-1991.

     Following his retirement from government service in 1991, Ambassador Scanlan represented private companies in Europe and Washington.  He was also active in four non-profit organizations engaged in assisting in the post-communist transformation of Eastern Europe.

     Ambassador Scanlan was awarded a Presidential Citation for Outstanding Service in Diplomacy in 1983 and the Department of Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal in 1991.  He has written several articles and addressed more that 100 university and civic audiences on developments in Russia and Eastern Europe.  He has been listed in Who’s Who In American since 1983.