United States | Co-Chair
Former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs
Tom Shannon spent over 30 years in the foreign service, most recently as under-secretary of state for political affairs in the US Department of State from 2016-2018. He previously served as counselor and senior advisor to the secretary following a four-year term as US ambassador to Brazil. Shannon served as assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs from 2005-2009 and as special assistant to the president and senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs at the National Security Council from 2003 to 2005, among other senior roles across the region.
Shannon joined the Dialogue as a Member in 2018. He currently serves as Co-Chair of the Dialogue’s Board of Directors.
On July 28, Ambassador Tom Shannon, former under secretary of state for political affairs, participated in a virtual briefing organized by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) to discuss a new report by SFRC Democratic Staff. The report is titled Diplomacy in Crisis: The Trump Administration’s Decimation of the State Department.
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In an interview with Modern American Diplomacy, Ambassador Tom Shannon, Co-Chair of the Dialogue’s Board of Directors, discussed the significance of strategic thinking as it pertains to American diplomacy, challenges and revelations presented by Covid-19, and the future of the United States foreign service.
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Ambassador Thomas A. Shannon, co-chair of the Inter-American Dialogue’s board of directors, shares his perspective on current foreign policy challenges and opportunities, the Trump administration’s understanding of the world, and its approach to promoting US interests in this event hosted by Global Minnesota.
During Obama’s second term, Biden was largely designated by the president to oversee Latin America policy at the White House. He took that to heart, travelled in the region and got to know it.
