Atlantic Council

Biography

Ambassador Henry E. Catto

Henry E. Catto was elected chairman of the Atlantic Council of the United States in January 1999. In the course of a long and distinguished diplomatic and government career, he has been director of the United States Information Agency (1991-93), U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom (1989-91), Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and Pentagon Spokesman (1981-83), U.S. Representative to the United Nations Offices in Geneva (1976-77), Chief of Protocol, White House and Department of State (1974-76), U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador (1971-73), and Deputy Representative to the Organization of American States (1969-71). From 1983 to 1989, he was vice chairman and president of Broadcast Group at H & C Communications, operator of network television stations (Houston, Orlando-Daytona Beach, San Antonio). He was also a partner in the insurance brokerage firm Catto & Catto in San Antonio from 1955 to 2000.

Other activities include: Diplomat-in-Residence at the University of Texas at San Antonio, member of the Smithsonian National Board, vice-chairman of the Aspen Institute, member of the Advisory Council of Direct Relief International, and member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Ambassador Catto is the author of Ambassadors at Sea, the High and Low Adventures of a Diplomat. He is a graduate of Williams College, and has an honorary LLD from the University of Aberdeen. He is married to Jessica Hobby Catto and has four children.