Avis T. Bohlen was sworn in on November 24, 1999, as Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Arms Control.

Ms. Bohlen is a career Foreign Service officer. She served most recently as Ambassador to Bulgaria (1996-1999) and before that, as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Paris (1991-1995). Since entering the Foreign Service in 1977, she has had several assignments in the Bureau of European Affairs including Deputy Assistant Secretary from 1989 to 1991. She has also served on the Policy Planning Staff and as Executive Director on the U.S. Delegation for Nuclear and Space Talks in Geneva.

Ms. Bohlen has a B.A. degree from Radcliffe College (1961) and an M.A. from Columbia University (1965). She received the President's Distinguished Service Award in 1991. She is married to Professor David Calleo, who teaches at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.