Thomas Donilon

Thomas Donilon is the chairman of the BlackRock Investment Institute. Previously, he served as National Security Advisor to President Barack Obama. In that capacity, he coordinated the administration’s foreign policy, intelligence and military efforts, and he served as the president’s emissary to a number of world leaders. Donilon chaired the Obama-Biden transition at the State Department and the National Security Council, and he headed President Obama’s debate preparation in the 2008 campaign. In 2016, he chaired the Presidential Commission to Enhance National Cybersecurity. Donilon serves as co-chair of the Foreign Policy Advisory Board at the State Department and as a member of the Defense Policy Board. He 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. Donilon has advised four U.S. presidents since his first position at the White House in 1977, working with President Jimmy Carter. Donilon lives in Washington with his spouse, Ambassador Cathy Russell, who currently serves as UNICEF’s executive director.