Thomas E. Donilon

Thomas E. Donilon

Aspen Strategy Group Member, Chairman, BlackRock Investment Institute

Thomas E. Donilon is Chairman of the BlackRock Investment Institute and senior of counsel at the international law firm of O’Melveny & Myers. He served as National Security Advisor to President Barack Obama. In that capacity, Mr. Donilon oversaw the administration’s foreign policy, intelligence, and military efforts and served as the President’s personal emissary to a number of world leaders. Mr. Donilon previously served as Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor. He chaired the Obama-Biden transition at the U.S. State Department and National Security Council and headed President Obama’s debate preparation in the 2008 campaign. In 2016, he chaired the Presidential Commission to Enhance National Cybersecurity. Mr. Donilon is a distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, a non-resident senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, a member of the Center on Global Energy Policy Advisory Board at Columbia University, and a member of the Brookings Institution Board of Trustees. He is also a member of the Defense Policy Board. Mr. Donilon has received the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award, the National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal, the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award, and the CIA’s Director Award. Mr. Donilon has advised four U.S. presidents since his first position at the White House in 1977, working with President Carter. Mr. Donilon received his undergraduate degree from Catholic University and his law degree from the University of Virginia. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife, Ambassador Cathy Russell. Ms. Russell currently serves as UNICEF’s Executive Director. He is a member of the Aspen Strategy Group.