Komarow named AP's deputy Washington bureau chief

Steven Komarow, senior deputy international editor for The Associated Press, has been named deputy Washington bureau chief for the news cooperative.

Komarow, a veteran correspondent with extensive background in Washington, Europe, and the Middle East, moves to Washington after two years in the AP's international news department. In his new role, he will help manage the AP's largest U.S. bureau, with broad oversight on all key initiatives including an expanded enterprise report and closer interaction with other AP departments and formats.

The appointment was announced Monday by Washington Bureau Chief Ron Fournier.

Komarow, 52, 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 embedded 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 USA Today's Washington bureau in 2003, splitting his time between national security coverage in Washington and reporting from Iraq.

"Steve has the temperament and the experience to help the Washington bureau retain its reputation for being first and fair while taking us to a new level in enterprise and watchdog journalism," Fournier said.

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