Ambassador Presel is currently special international affairs advisor to the President and the Provost at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He is a career member of the Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor. He served as Ambassador to Uzbekistan (1997-2000), Coordinator for Regional Affairs in the New Independent States since 1993, and became Special Negotiator for Nagorno-Karabakh in 1995, with the rank of Ambassador. Ambassador Presel joined the Foreign Service in 1963, and has specialized in Russian, multilateral diplomacy, and political military affairs.
He has served in Turkey, France, Moscow, Belgrade (as Deputy Chief of Mission), and twice in the US Arms Control Delegation in Vienna, the second time as Deputy U.S. Representative. His Washington service includes two assignments to the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, service in the European, politico-military, international organizations and INR bureaus, as well as several assignments in the offices of Department of State principals.
Ambassador Presel is a graduate of Harvard College, and studied at St. Anthony's College, Oxford University.