Thomas E. “Tom” Donilon is the National Security Advisor

National Security Advisor (United States)

The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor , serves as the chief advisor to the President of the United States on national security issues...

 in the Obama Administration, and has had a career as a U.S. political advisor, government official and lawyer. Previously, he served together with diplomat Wendy Sherman

Wendy Sherman

Wendy Ruth Sherman is a United States diplomat, government official, non-profit manager, and adviser to politicians and business. During the Clinton Administration, she served as Counselor of the United States Department of State and Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State and...

 as Agency Review Team Lead for the State Department in the Obama transition, and as Deputy to National Security Advisor James Jones

James L. Jones

James Logan Jones, Jr. is the former United States National Security Advisor and a retired United States Marine Corps General....

 early in the Obama administration. Donilon replaced Jones as National Security Advisor on October 8, 2010.

Early life and education

Born in Providence, Rhode Island

Providence, Rhode Island

Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...

, Donilon attended La Salle Academy

La Salle Academy, Providence

La Salle Academy is an independent, co-educational Roman Catholic college preparatory day school located in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island...

, earned a B.A. at The Catholic University of America

The Catholic University of America

The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...

 in 1977 and a J.D. at the University of Virginia

University of Virginia

The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...

 in 1985. He served on the Editorial Board of the Virginia Law Review

Virginia Law Review

The Virginia Law Review is a law review edited and published entirely by students at University of Virginia School of Law. It was founded on March 15, 1913, and permanently organized later that year...

.

Private sector

He worked as Executive Vice President for Law and Policy at Fannie Mae, the federally-chartered mortgage finance company, as a registered lobbyist from 1999 through 2005. This line on his resume raised eyebrows when his appointment to the Obama transition team was announced, given that the company had been seized by federal regulators.

Before his appointment to the Obama Administration, Donilon was a partner in the Washington office of the law firm O'Melveny & Myers, where he advised companies and their boards on a range of "sensitive governance, policy, legal and regulatory matters."

Government and political work

Donilon worked as assistant secretary of state for public affairs and has served as the Clinton administration's Secretary of State chief of staff. Although he has no military experience and worked as a lobbyist, Donilon was "intimately involved in many major foreign policy issues, including negotiating the Bosnian peace agreement and the expansion of NATO".
Donilon figures prominently during formulation of strategy for Afghanistan and associated discussions in Bob Woodward's 2010 book, "Obama's Wars."

Donilon was 'criticsed' by General Jones who once disparaged Donilon, for his lack of overseas experience, telling him that as a result: "You have no credibility with the military," according to Bob Woodward's "Obama's Wars." Jones said that Donilon was not good in his dealings with his staff at the National Security Council, displaying "too little feel for the people who work day and night....". Donilon did visit Afghanistan March 2010 during President Obama's six-hour late-night visit to the country.

Personal life

Donilon is the brother of Mike Donilon

Mike Donilon

Mike Donilon, a lawyer and political campaign consultant, has been appointed to be Counselor to the Vice-President by vice-president Joe Biden. Prior to the appointment, Donilon worked with the vice-presidential candidate to help him prepare for the debates and also as a traveling advisor...

, a lawyer and political consultant who has been chosen to serve as Counselor to Vice-President Joe Biden

Joe Biden

Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...

. He is married to Catherine M. Russell

Catherine M. Russell

Catherine M. Russell has been appointed to be Chief of Staff to Jill Biden, spouse of Vice President of the United States Joe Biden. She was an Associate Deputy Attorney General in the Clinton Administration...

, who has been named Chief of Staff to Jill Biden

Jill Biden

Jill Tracy Biden is an American educator and, as the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, is the Second Lady of the United States....

, and they have two children.

External links

• National Security Council

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