Steven Komarow named Senior Deputy International Editor for The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Steven Komarow, assistant international editor for The Associated Press, has been named senior deputy international editor for the news cooperative.

Komarow, a veteran correspondent with extensive reporting background in Washington, Europe, and the Middle East, has been assistant international editor since April 2006. In his new role, he will assist International Editor John Daniszewski in managing and setting policy and strategy for the department, which includes 90 bureaus around the world.

The appointment was announced on May 2 by Daniszewski.

Komarow first joined the AP on the Metro Desk in Washington in 1979. He later was Washington Metro editor and chief congressional correspondent. He covered the presidential campaigns in 1988 and in 1992.

In 1993, Komarow moved to USA Today as a defense correspondent, covering three secretaries of defense and troops in the field. He was the first reporter to cover a cruise missile launch from inside a B-52 bomber. He accompanied the first ground troops into Bosnia, Kosovo, and Haiti.

In 2000, Komarow opened USA Today’s Berlin bureau and wrote news and feature stories from Central and Eastern Europe. After Sept. 11, 2001, he covered the U.S.-led military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

He was an embedded reporter with the Army during the invasion of Iraq, and went on to cover the capture and trial of Saddam Hussein, reconstruction efforts and the insurgency. He also has reported from across Europe and in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Yemen, Djibouti, Lebanon and the Persian Gulf states.

Komarow returned to the newspaper’s Washington bureau in August 2003, splitting his time between national security coverage in Washington and reporting from Iraq.

“Steve brings a wealth of experience, insight and intelligence to the leadership of AP’s international department and its far-flung network of correspondents and reporters worldwide,” said Daniszewski. “His contributions will be particularly felt in developing longer-range, in-depth enterprise reporting and analysis.”

Komarow’s appointment expands the top management team at the AP’s international department, which also includes deputy international editors Nicolas B. Tatro and Larry Heinzerling.

Komarow, born in New York, holds a B.A. in political science from George Washington University.