C. Fred Bergsten has been Director of the Peterson Institute for International Economics since its creation in 1981. He was assistant secretary for international affairs of the U.S. Treasury (1977–81) and assistant for international economic affairs to the National Security Council (1969–71). He is a member of the President's Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations and Co-Chairman of the Private Sector Advisory Group to the US-India Trade Policy Forum. He previously served as Chairman of the Competitiveness Policy Council created by Congress (1991–95) and the APEC Eminent Persons Group (1993–95). He is the author, coauthor or editor of 40 books on a wide range of international economic issues. He graduated from Central Methodist University in 1961 and received his PhD from Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1969.