Joseph Prueher

Joseph Wilson Prueher (Pinyin: Pǔ Lǚ’è) (born November 25, 1942) 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 attended Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He also 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 Intruder pilot. In the later part of his career, he 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.

Awards and decorations
ADM Prueher received numerous personal decorations including the Naval Aviator insignia, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, 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.

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".

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.

Post-Government Career
Prueher is a director of Fluor Corporation, Irving, Texas; Emerson Electric Co., St. Louis, Missouri; and AMERIGROUP Corporation, Virginia Beach, Virginia.