NEW: RI Native and Former Obama Adviser Donilon to Speak at Brown

NEW: RI Native and Former Obama Adviser Donilon to Speak at Brown

Rhode Island native Thomas Donilon, former national security adviser to President Obama, will speak at Brown University on Monday, Oct. 7, 2013, at 5 p.m. in Metcalf Auditorium, 190-194 Thayer St. The event, free and open to the public, is part of the Watson Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series. Tickets are required and may be reserved online at donilonbrownconversation.eventbrite.com.

Sponsored by the Watson Institute for International Studies as part of its Distinguished Speaker Series, Donilon will engage in a conversation with Watson Institute Director Richard Locke about a variety of topics, including foreign policy and security challenges. The audience will be invited to ask questions following the conversation.

Credentials

Donilon served as national security adviser to President Barack Obama until June of 2013. In that capacity, he oversaw the National Security Council staff, chaired the Cabinet-level National Security Principals Committee, provided the president’s daily national security briefing, and was responsible for the coordination and integration of the administration’s foreign policy, intelligence, and military efforts.

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In addition to Obama, Donilon has worked closely with and advised two other U.S. presidents since his first position at the White House in 1977 working for President Carter. During the Clinton Administration, he served as assistant secretary of state and chief of staff at the U.S. Department of State and was responsible for the development and implementation of the Department’s major policy initiatives, including NATO expansion, the Dayton Peace Accords, and the Middle East Peace process.

Rhode Island Roots

Born in Providence, Donilon attended La Salle Academy before earning a B.A. at the Catholic University of America, and a J.D. at the University of Virginia.

Donilon’s brothers Mike and Terry have also held political posts. In fact, Mike Donilon is a former senior adviser to Vice President Joe Biden. He also worked on campaigns for U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse. Terry Donilon served as the press secretary for Gov. Bruce Sundlun, and is currently the spokesman for Sean O’Malley, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston.