Drawing on his distinguished career in government and the private sector, Tom Donilon is Senior Of Counsel to the firm. A leading national security expert with an extensive global network, Tom has deep experience in geopolitics, cybersecurity, financial services, and corporate governance.
Tom returned to the firm in 2014 after serving as National Security Advisor to President Barack Obama. In that capacity Tom oversaw the US 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. Tom also oversaw the White House’s international economics, cybersecurity, and international energy efforts. Tom served as the President’s personal emissary to a number of world leaders.
Tom previously served as Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor. In that role, he was responsible for managing the US government's national security policy development and crisis management process. Tom chaired the Obama-Biden transition at the US Department of State. During the 2008 campaign, Tom headed President Obama's general election debate preparation effort.
Tom 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 distinguished fellow at the Asia Society, and a member of the Center on Global Energy Policy Advisory Board at Columbia University. From 2013-2017, he served on the Central Intelligence Agency’s External Advisory Board. Tom also chaired the Commission for Enhancing National Cybersecurity, which issued the December, 2016 Report [to the President] on Securing and Growing the Digital Economy.
Tom has worked closely with and advised three US presidents since his first position at the White House in 1977, working with President Carter. He served as assistant secretary of state and chief of staff at the U.S. Department of State during the Clinton administration. In this capacity, Tom was responsible for the development and implementation of the department's major policy initiatives. Tom 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's Award.
Tom is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Aspen Strategy Group, and an honorary member of the Brookings Institution Board of Trustees. He received his undergraduate degree from Catholic University and his law degree from the University of Virginia.
Tom also previously served as Executive Vice President for Law and Policy at Fannie Mae where he was responsible for Fannie Mae’s legal, regulatory, government affairs, and public policy issues.
His return to the firm in 2014 began the fourth installment of his practice at O’Melveny. He started his legal career as an associate at the firm in 1985 and, before joining the Obama Administration in 2009, practiced as a partner representing clients on a range of sensitive governance, legal, regulatory, and policy matters. He also served as the national partner charged with overseeing the firm’s public interest and pro bono initiatives and led the firm’s successful effort to revitalize its pro bono commitment.
Tom lives in Washington, DC, with his wife, Ambassador Cathy Russell.
Ms. Russell served as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues at the US Department of State from 2013-2017.
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
Education
- University of Virginia, J.D., 1985: Editorial Board, Virginia Law Review
- Catholic University of America, B.A., 1977: summa cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa; Catholic University President’s Award as Outstanding Graduate
Professional Activities
Member
- Council on Foreign Relations
- Aspen Strategy Group
- Defense Policy Board
- Trilateral Commission
- The Brookings Institution, Honorary Trustee
Public Appearances
- The Axe Files with David Axelrod, CNN (June 11, 2018)
- On GPS: Donilon on "Statecraft Errors" of Korea Summit (May 25, 2018)
- The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, CNN (April 9, 2018)
- On GPS: Tom Donilon on John Bolton as NSA, CNN (April 6, 2018)
- Face the Nation, CBS (January 7, 2018)
- Intelligence Matters, The Cipher Brief (October 3, 2017)
- Face the Nation, CBS (August 27, 2017)
- Former National Security Advisers Discuss Future of US Global Leadership, Aspen Institute (August 4, 2017)
- The Global Politico, Politico (July 10, 2017)
- Asia and the U.S.: Trump's First 100 Days, Asia Society (May 10, 2017)
- On GPS: Two national security advisers on Trump, CNN (March 5, 2017)
- Interview with Charlie Rose (April 6, 2017)
- Interview with Charlie Rose (December 12, 2016)
- Playbook Breakfast, Politico (August 4, 2016)
- National Security & the 2016 Election, Center for American Progress (July 27, 2016)
- Interview with Charlie Rose (May 23, 2016)
- Face the Nation, CBS (January 3, 2016)
- Face the Nation, CBS (October 11, 2015)
- Face the Nation, CBS (July 26, 2015)
- Former National Security Adviser defends Iran nuclear negotiations, CNN (March 4, 2015)
- Andrea Mitchell Reports, MSNBC (February 20, 2015)
- Face the Nation, CBS (February 8, 2015)
- The Lead with Jake Tapper, CNN (January 23, 2015)
- Interview with Charlie Rose (November 24, 2014)
- Andrea Mitchell Reports (November 19, 2014)
- Face the Nation, CBS (June 15, 2014)
- Interview with Fareed Zakaria (April 27, 2013)
- Interview with Charlie Rose (April 23, 2013)
- The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, CNN (April 21, 2013)
- Face the Nation, CBS (March 16, 2014)
- Interview with Fareed Zakaria (March 9, 2014)
- Interview with Charlie Rose (March 6, 2014)
- Event at Brookings Institution (March 6, 2014)
- The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, CNN (March 5, 2014)
- This Morning, CBS (March 4, 2014)
- Face the Nation, CBS (January 19, 2014)
- Interview Charlie Rose (December 20, 2013)
- Interview with Fareed Zakaria (December 8, 2013)
- Interview with George Stephanapoulos (December 1, 2013)
- Exit Interview with Fareed Zakaria (June 30, 2013)
- Event at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government (November 29, 2012)
Speeches
- Asia and the US: Trump’s First 100 Days, Asia Society (May 10, 2017)
- AIPAC Policy Conference (March 1, 2015)
- Navigating the U.S. Oil Export Debate, Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy (January 21, 2015)
- Keynote Address: Obama in China: Preserving the Rebalance, Brookings Institution (November 5, 2014)
- Commencement Address, Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (May 22, 2014)
- The Landon Lecture Series, Kansas State University, (April 14, 2014)
- Columbia University (April 24, 2013)
- Asia Society (March 11, 2013)
Articles/Op-Eds
- “Preserving the Long Peace in Asia: The Institutional Building Blocks of Long-Term Regional Security,” A Report of The Asia Society Policy Institute Independent Commission on Regional Security Architecture (September 2017)
- “Russia Will Be Back. Here’s How To Hack-Proof the Next Election.,” The Washington Post (July 14, 2017)
- “Lessons from the Obama Administration: Why Gender Equality Should Continue to Be Part of U.S. Foreign Policy,” Medium (January 4, 2017)
- “Advantage, America,” Foreign Affairs (June 28, 2016)
- “The Emerging Global Health Crisis,” Council on Foreign Relations (December 2014)
- “A New Direction for Global Health,” Project Syndicate (December 15, 2014)
- “Obama is on the Right Track With His Reorientation Toward Asia,” Washington Post (April 20, 2014)
- “Energy and American Power,” Foreign Affairs (June 15, 2013)
- “The President’s Free-Trade Path to Prosperity,” Wall Street Journal (April 15, 2013)
- “Hezbollah Unmasked,” The New York Times (February 17, 2013)
- “America Is Back in the Pacific and Will Uphold the Rules,” Financial Times (November 27, 2011)
- “Iran Will Not Hinder Plans for a Nuclear-Free World,” Financial Times (April 17, 2011)
Other Remarks
Corporate & Government Experience
- US National Security Advisor
- Assistant to the President