Ronald S. Lauder has served as President of the World Jewish Congress since 2007. As president of the WJC, he meets regularly with heads of state, prime ministers and government representatives to discuss and advance causes of concern to Jews and Jewish communities internationally. Ambassador Lauder also serves as Chairman of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation, which supports the preservation of the authentic remains of the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp. From 1983 to 1986, he served as United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Affairs. In 1986, he was appointed by President Reagan as U.S. Ambassador to Austria. In 1987, he established The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, which now supports Jewish schools, camps and community centers in Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine. In 1997, Ambassador Lauder was elected as President of the Jewish National Fund and after a successful 10-year tenure, became Chairman of the Board. From 1999 until 2001, he served as Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.