sˈuːɾɪŋɡɚ pɹˈiːviəsli sˈɜːvd æz dᵻɹˈɛktɚ fɔːɹ ˈeɪʒən ɐfˈɛɹz ɔnðə nˈæʃənəl sᵻkjˈʊɹɹᵻɾi kˈaʊnsəl fɹʌm mˈɑːɹtʃ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈoːɹ tʊ ɑːktˈoʊbɚ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɛvən, wˌɛɹ hiː ɐsˈɪstᵻd nˈæʃənəl sᵻkjˈʊɹɹᵻɾi ɐdvˈaɪzɚz ˈænθəni lˈeɪk ænd sˈændi bˈɜːdʒɚɹ ɪnðə dɪvˈɛləpmənt ænd ˌɪmplɪməntˈeɪʃən ʌv jˈuː.ˈɛs. pˈɑːlɪsi təwˈɔːɹd ðɪ ˈeɪʒəpɐsˈɪfɪk ɹˈiːdʒən.
Suettinger previously served as Director for Asian Affairs on the National Security Council from March 1994 to October 1997, where he assisted National Security Advisers Anthony Lake and Sandy Berger in the development and implementation of U.S. policy toward the Asia-Pacific region.