William J. Crockett

William J. Crockett (July 22, 1914 – March 18, 1999)[1][2] was a United States diplomat and official in the United States Department of State.

William J. Crockett
Born	July 22, 1914
Died	March 18, 1999
Nationality	American
Occupation	United States Diplomat
Known for	He created the Crockett reforms.

Biography

William J. Crockett joined the United States Foreign Service in 1951 and became a Foreign Service Officer a short time later.[3] He spent 1954-58 as an FSO in Rome.[4]

After six years as an FSO, President of the United States John F. Kennedy appointed Crockett Assistant Secretary of State for Administration, with Crockett holding this office from February 23, 1961 until June 7, 1963.[3] He became Deputy Under Secretary of State for Management in June 1963, holding this office until January 1967.[5]

Shortly after his appointment as Assistant Secretary, United States Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy had tasked Crockett with introducing business management techniques to the United States Department of State,[6] as had been recommended by the Commission on National Goals, chaired by Henry Wriston. The so-called "Crockett reforms" that he introduced were ambitious, but met resistance, and were largely seen as a failure.[7]

References

1. CQ Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report. Congressional Quarterly, Incorporated. 1963-01-01.
2. Oral History Interview at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library
3. Elmer Plischke, U.S. Department of State: A Reference History (1999), p. 456.
4. List of U.S. diplomats in Italy.
5. Comptroller General of the U.S. State Department, Report to the Congress: Some Progress in Improving Management of Government Owned and Leased Real Property Overseas (1974), p. 55.
6. Monteagle Stearns, Talking to Strangers: Improving American Diplomacy at Home and Abroad (Princeton University Press, 1993), p. 103.
7. Elmer Plischke, U.S. Department of State: A Reference History (1999), p. 457.

• Oral History Interview of Crockett