George S. Vest

George Southall Vest (born December 25, 1918) is a former United States diplomat and State Department official.

George S. Vest was born in Columbia, Virginia,of American Indian heritage and educated at the University of Virginia, graduating with a B.A. in 1941. Upon leaving college, Vest joined the United States Army to serve as a soldier during World War II. He left the Army in 1946, having attained the rank of captain. Vest returned to the University of Virginia and received an M.A. in 1947.

In 1947, Vest joined the United States Foreign Service. His first post was as a consular officer in Hamilton, Ontario. In 1949, he became a consular officer in Quito, a post he held until 1952, at which time he returned to Canada as a political officer at the Embassy of the United States in Ottawa.

In 1954, Vest became the Canadian Desk officer at the United States Department of State in Washington, D.C.; he later served as special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs.

In 1959, Vest was posted to Paris as a political officer at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, and then in 1960, as a political officer with the United States mission to NATO. He was then Chief of the Private Office for the Secretary General of NATO (Dirk Stikker)from 1961 to 1963.

Vest spent 1963-64 studying at the Naval War College.

In 1965-67, he was deputy director of the State Department's Office of Atlantic Political-Military Affairs. In 1967, he moved to Brussels as Deputy Chief of Missions of the United States Mission to the European Commission, a post he held until 1969, when he became Deputy Chief of Missions of the United States Mission to NATO in Brussels. Vest spent 1972-73 working on negotiations related to the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Vest returned to Washington, D.C. in 1973 to become Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Press Relations. In 1974, President of the United States Richard Nixon nominated Vest as Director of the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs; he subsequently held this office from April 29, 1974 until March 27, 1977. On April 7, 1977 President Jimmy Carter nominated Vest as United States Ambassador to Pakistan, but this nomination was withdrawn on May 5, 1977. Carter then nominated Vest as Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs and Vest held this office from June 16, 1977 until April 14, 1981.

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan nominated Vest as United States Ambassador to the European Union. He held this post until 1985, when Reagan named Vest Director General of the Foreign Service; he held this office from June 8, 1985 until May 3, 1989. Vest was made a Career Ambassador in 1987.

Vest retired in 1985. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.