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Press Releases

September 15, 2008

Ambassador (ret.) Ralph Johnson Joins Quinn Gillespie & Associates

Newest Addition to International Practice Group

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Quinn Gillespie & Associates (QGA) is pleased to announce the hiring of Ambassador (ret.) Ralph Johnson, who has joined the firm as a director in the International Practice Group.

Ambassador Johnson brings over 30 years of experience in the public and private sectors, having served in senior positions including Deputy Assistant USTR (Europe and Japan), Deputy Assistant Secretary in both the Economic and European Bureaus at State, Principal DAS in the European Bureau, U.S. Ambassador to the Slovak Republic and Principal Deputy High Representative in the Office of the High Representative in Sarajevo. He retired from the Foreign Service in 1999.

Following his retirement from the Foreign Service, Ambassador Johnson and his wife, Jacqueline, resided in Slovakia, where they established a consulting firm. They provided political risk assessment and political advisory services to U.S. and other investors in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

From 1993 until 1995, Ambassador Johnson was the Coordinator for U.S. assistance to Central and Eastern Europe. In this role he was responsible for the oversight and coordination of all U.S. assistance to the region, including approximately $400 million per year under the SEED (Support for East European Democracy) Act.

Ambassador Johnson entered the U.S. Foreign Service in 1969. He has served overseas in Guyana, Poland, Bolivia and Slovakia. He received a Superior Honor Award in 1987, the Presidential Meritorious Honor Award in 1989 and 1994, and the Distinguished Service Award in 1999.

"Ambassador Johnson's distinguished background and experience will complement QGA’s talented group of government relations professionals," said Jack Quinn, Chairman. "We are pleased to welcome him to our team and look forward to future success with him on board as we continue to serve and grow our strong international client base."

QGA’s International Practice has seen notable expansion with the addition of several clients, including Republic of Macedonia, Republika Srpska, and Pink Media. A graduate of Seattle University, Mr. Johnson holds an M.A. in International Relations from Columbia University. He speaks Spanish, Polish and Slovak. He is married to Lieutenant Colonel (USAR) Jacqueline Johnson.

Quinn Gillespie & Associates (QGA) was founded in 2000 by Jack Quinn, former White House Counsel to President Bill Clinton and Chief of Staff to Vice President Al Gore, Ed Gillespie, former Republican National Committee Chairman, and Jeff Connaughton, former Clinton White House lawyer and staff assistant to Senator Joe Biden.  The firm provides public affairs counsel to leading corporations, coalitions, trade associations and public entities.  One of the only Washington firms to thoroughly integrate government relations and communications services, QGA’s team of nearly 30 professionals bring a bipartisan, multi-disciplinary approach to helping clients successfully manage public policy challenges.