Former U.N. Special Commission (UNSCOM) chief nuclear weapons inspector David Kay has been appointed as a special advisor for strategy to assist the United States in searching for Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, according to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

CIA Director George Tenet announced June 11 that Kay will be based in Iraq and responsible for refining the overall approach to the ongoing search for Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The new Department of Defense's Iraq Survey Group will provide direct support to the special advisor.

"David Kay's experience and background make him the ideal person for this new role. His understanding of the history of the Iraqi programs and knowledge of past Iraqi efforts to hide WMD will be of inestimable help in determining the current status of Saddam Hussein's illicit weapons," Tenet said in the text of a June 11 CIA news release .

Kay, working for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and UNSCOM, led three arms inspection missions as chief nuclear weapons inspector in Iraq from 1991 to 1992.

Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet announced today the appointment of Dr. David Kay as Special Advisor for Strategy regarding Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Programs. Dr. Kay, 63, will be based in Iraq and will be in charge of refining the overall approach for the search for Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. The Department of Defense's Iraq Survey Group will provide direct support to the Special Advisor.

In announcing the appointment Director Tenet said: "David Kay's experience and background make him the ideal person for this new role. His understanding of the history of the Iraqi programs and knowledge of past Iraqi efforts to hide WMD will be of inestimable help in determining the current status of Saddam Hussein's illicit weapons."

Dr. Kay, working for IAEA (the International Atomic Energy Agency) and UNSCOM (United Nations Special Commission), led three arms inspection missions as chief nuclear weapons inspector in Iraq during 1991-92. Most recently he has served as a senior fellow at the Arlington, Virginia-based think tank, The Potomac Institute.

Dr. Kay has a BA degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Masters in International Affairs and Ph.D. degree from Columbia University. He is a recipient of the IAEA's Distinguished Service Award and the U.S Secretary of State's Commendation.