Joseph Wilson Prueher (Chinese: 普吕厄; Pinyin: Pǔ Lǚ’è) (born November 25, 1942)[1] served as United States Ambassador to the People's Republic of China from 1999 to 2001. He was succeeded as ambassador by Clark T. Randt, Jr. Prior to his posting as ambassador, Prueher was a United States Navy Admiral and the Commander, United States Pacific Command from 1996 to 1999 and Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 1995 to 1996.
A native of Tennessee, Admiral Prueher is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and holds a master's degree in international affairs from George Washington University. He is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War where he flew as an A-6 pilot. He also served as the seventy-third Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy.
He delivered the "letter of the two sorries" which defused the Hainan Island incident in 2001.
ADM Prueher received numerous personal decorations including the Naval Aviator insignia, Legion of Merit (4 awards), Distinguished Flying Cross (2 awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), 3 individual Air Medals with Valor device and bronze Strike/Flight numeral 8, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards) with Valor device, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards) with Valor device, and various unit, service and campaign awards.Defense Distinguised Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal
In December 1998 he was appointed an Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia, "for distinguished service in the promotion of Australian and United States of America Defence relations".[2]
In 1997, he was honored with the Naval War College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award and, in 2001, Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award by George Washington University.[3]
Prueher is a director of Fluor Corporation, Irving, Texas; Emerson Electric Co., St. Louis, Missouri; and AMERIGROUP Corporation, Virginia Beach, Virginia.[4]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Howard W. Habermeyer Jr. |
Commandant of Midshipmen 73rd |
Succeeded by Michael D. Haskins |
| Preceded by Richard C. Macke |
Commander, United States Pacific Command 1996–1999 |
Succeeded by Dennis C. Blair |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by Jim Sasser |
US Ambassador to China 1999–2001 |
Succeeded by Clark T. Randt, Jr. |