He served in a variety of senior diplomatic posts, including as Canada′s ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Canada′s ambassador to Austria; Canada′s representative to NATO - Warsaw Pact disarmament negotiations, and was the Department of Foreign Affairs director-general of African and Middle Eastern Affairs.[1][13] He also played a role in the rescue of six American diplomats who managed to evade being taken hostage during the 1979 Iranian revolution.[14][15]