Nancy Long Arneson

Mrs. Arneson was born in Northern New Jersey. She lived with her family in Caracas, Venezuela from 1945-49, and later in Short Hills, New Jersey. In the mid 1960’s and again in the 1970’s, she lived and worked in Florence, then in Rome, Italy.

Mrs. Arneson graduated from Smith College in 1962 with a B.A. in English Literature. After living for three years in Italy, Mrs. Arneson received an M.A. in International Affairs and Public Administration in 1969 from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh.

Mrs. Arneson worked as a research analyst in strategic arms and arms control at the Brookings Institution from 1969-72. From 1972-74 she was a Research Associate at Foreign Area Studies, American University, co-authoring four books on Eastern and Western European countries. . In the mid 1970’s, Mrs. Arneson served as a journalist and editor at the Daily American in Rome, Italy.

As a consultant to the Department of State from 1982-1988, Mrs. Arneson served as Acting Deputy of Professional Studies at the Foreign Service Institute and later designed symposia and courses for Foreign Service Officers.

Before joining the Agency for International Development, she consulted with the Office of Personnel Management, Visitors Program Service, the Voice of America, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies as well as private consulting groups. In 1987-88, she worked as a consultant and analyst to the AID on energy analysis.

In the 1990’s, Mrs. Arneson was self-employed as a foreign policy consultant, writing for the School of International Studies, the Foreign Service Institute of the State Department, the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the National Center for International Health.

After the death of her husband, R. Gordon Arneson, March 16, 1992, formerly Special Assistant on Atomic Energy under Secretary Dean Acheson, she studied and worked in the field of addictive diseases. She also finished a book, begun by her late husband, on his life and career, entitled: R. Gordon Arneson: Memories of the State Department’s Mr. Atom.

The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to the Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Program, Pheonix House, or the CATS program of Fairfax Hospital,

Nancy Long Arneson is survived by her brother John R. Long, and nephews David and John Long. A Memorial service will be held on April 1st at 3:30 PM at Arlington Presbyterian Church at 3507 Columbia Pike, with Pastor, Rev. Sharon Core presiding. A reception will be held at noon at the Officers Club, Fort Meyer.