Eric Newsom

Eric Newsom became Vice President for International Business at Collins & Company after 32 years in U.S. Government service. He specializes in foreign affairs, defense policy and defense technology export licensing. Prior to his present position, Mr. Newsom was Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs from November 1998, where he was senior manager of the defense export licensing system. He served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs from 1994 to 1998. Mr. Newsom retired from the State Department on December 31, 2000. Mr. Newsom also had extensive experience in the US Senate. He was Staff Director of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee from January 1989 to March 1994, where he assisted in producing the annual foreign assistance appropriation. From 1987 to 1989, he was Legislative Director and Foreign Policy Adviser to Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont. From 1985 to 1987, Mr. Newsom was Minority Staff Director of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and from 1982 to 1984, he was a professional staff member of that committee. Mr. Newsom holds Superior Honor awards from the Department of State, and received the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service and the Secretary of State’s Career Achievement Award. He speaks, reads and writes Spanish.