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Pete Peterson | |
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| Ambassador of the United States of America to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | |
| In office April 11, 1997 – July 15, 2001 | |
| President | Bill Clinton George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Inaugural holder |
| Succeeded by | Raymond Burghardt |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Grant |
| Succeeded by | Allen Boyd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Douglas Brian Peterson June 26, 1935 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Citizenship | Australian (since 2002)[1] |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Nickname | "Pete" |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1954–1980 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War (WIA) |
| Awards | Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal (3) Purple Heart |
Douglas Brian "Pete" Peterson (born June 26, 1935) is an American politician and diplomat. He served as a United States Air Force pilot during the Vietnam War and spent over six years as a prisoner of the North Vietnamese army after his plane was shot down. He returned to Hanoi when he became the first United States Ambassador to Vietnam in 1997. He was an ambassador until July 2001, after which he devoted himself to philanthropic work.