Washington: Former Ambassador to India Robert D Blackwill, who helped firm up the Indo-US relationship, has been appointed Deputy Assistant to the President and Co-ordinator for Strategic Planning to the National Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice.

"Ambassador Blackwill will work with government-wide policy planning operations to help develop and co- ordinate the mid- and long-term direction of American foreign policy," a White House announcement said.

Ambassador Blackwill comes to the National Security Council after having most recently served as US Ambassador to India beginning July 2001. Prior to this diplomatic posting, he was the Belfer Lecturer in International Security at Harvard University's John F Kennedy School of Government, where he taught foreign and Defence policy and qualitative public policy analysis.

During his 14 years at Harvard, he was Associate Dean of the Kennedy School and faculty chairman of the School's Executive Programme for US and Russian General Officers, of the School's Chinese Security Studies Programme, and of the Kennedy School's Middle East Initiative. He is the author of many books and articles on international security.

During his Foreign Service career, Blackwill held several illustrious positions.

PTI