LEONID KUCHMA
President of Ukraine

Leonid Danilovych Kuchma was born on the 9th of August, 1938, in the Chernihiv region, Ukraine. Ukrainian by nationality.

Mr. Kuchma graduated from Dnipropetrovsk State University, Department of Physical Engineering, in 1960. Since 1991 he has been a member of the Engineering Academy of Ukraine. Since 1992 he has been a professor of Dnipropetrovsk State University: Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. He is a recipient of two State Prizes, the Lenin Prize and the State Prize of Ukrainian SSR, for achievements in designing and development of rocket and space technologies, he is the author of a range of scientific monographs, books and articles in the above field.

From 1960 to 1982 President Kuchma worked as a technical designer at the "Pivdenne" (Southern) Design Bureau of the Pivdennyi Machine - Building Works - the world largest space industry complex, then as a technical director at the Baykonur Space Launch Complex. In 1982 he was appointed the First Deputy to the Chief Designer of "Pivdenne," and from 1986 to 1992 he worked as the Director General of the same Concern.

In 1990, and 1994, he was elected as a member to the Ukrainian Parliament - the Verkhovna Rada.

Mr. Kuchma was appointed Prime Minister of Ukraine, October 1992, and he remained in that post until September, 1993. In 1993 he was elected President of the Ukrainian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

In July, 1994, after a nationwide election, running with six other presidential aspirants, Leonid Kuchma was elected President of Ukraine.

Mr. Kuchma is married to Lydmila, and has a daughter and a grandson.

As the leader of state Mr. Kuchma upholds the task of strengthening the independence and territorial integrity of the country, and has impressively contributed to transforming Ukraine's of the post-totalitarian society into a democratic nation based on free market principles with guarantees of the basic human rights and freedoms. In 1994 he initiated the constitutional process, created the Constitutional Commission, and took an active role in the of adoption of the new Constitution of Ukraine in 1996.