AMBASSADOR DAVID H.

SHINN
23 8th St. S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003

Blog: http://davidshinn.blogspot.com/
Email: dhshinn@earthlink.net
TEACHING AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE

The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., 2001 - present: Adjunct Professor in the
Elliott School of International Affairs.
Teaches courses on African affairs and China-Africa relations at the undergraduate and graduate
level.
University of California, Los Angeles, 1999 - 2000: Senior Fellow and Diplomat-in-Residence at the
UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research.
Designed and taught three undergraduate courses concerning U.S. policy towards Africa in the
Departments of Public Policy and Political Science, gave guest lectures, made public presentations
on State Department issues and recruited for the State Department at universities in California.
Foreign Service Institute, Arlington, Virginia, 1991 - 1992: Special Assistant to the Director.
Mentored new Foreign Service officers, lectured on foreign policy issues and evaluated Institute
courses.
Southern University, Baton Rouge, 1990 - 1991: Diplomat-in-Residence in the Political Science
Department.
Taught four undergraduate courses and one graduate course dealing with international affairs, U.S.
foreign policy and African affairs. Recruited for the State Department throughout Louisiana and
organized a regional conference on careers in U.S. government foreign affairs agencies.
EDUCATION
Senior Seminar, 1986 - 87: Completed the premier nine month training course offered by the
Department of State for senior foreign service, civil service and military officers.
Ph.D. in political science, 1980: The George Washington University. Dissertation on Tanzania's foreign
policy.
Advanced Certificate in African studies, 1969: Northwestern University.
MA in international affairs, 1964: The George Washington University. Thesis on the Pan Somali
movement.
BA in government, 1963: The George Washington University.
AA, 1960: Yakima Valley Community College, Yakima, Washington.

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Ambassador to Ethiopia, 1996 - 1999: Directed an embassy of 75 American staff and 400 Ethiopians
representing six U.S. government agencies. Initiated a public campaign against HIV/AIDS, enlisting the
support of Ethiopia's President and the head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Director for East African Affairs, U.S. Department of State, 1993 - 1996: Developed and
implemented American policy for 12 countries in East Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean.
Influenced a new policy focus and use of USAID funds for the Greater Horn of Africa which
emphasized conflict prevention and food security.
State Department Deputy Task Force Director and then Coordinator for Somalia, 1992 -1993:
Coordinated State Department policy towards Somalia during the U.S. and United Nations intervention
in liaison with the National Security Council, Department of Defense, Central Intelligence Agency, U.S.
Congress and the United Nations. Directed an interagency team during a visit to war torn Somalia and
recommended extensive policy changes in an effort to salvage the United Nations peacekeeping
operation. Received a State Department Superior Honor Award.
Management Task Force Member, 1992: Made recommendations for reorganizing the Department of
State that were adopted at the beginning of the Clinton Administration.
Ambassador to Burkina Faso, 1987 - 1990: Led an embassy of 30 Americans and 250 Burkinabe
representing four U.S. government agencies. Created and implemented a public diplomacy campaign
throughout the country to explain to ordinary citizens American policy and programs.
Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Khartoum, Sudan, 1983 - 1986: As the number two officer
and chief of staff, supervised a large mission during a severe local famine, a terrorist attack, and three
changes of government. Managed two efficient and casualty free evacuations of American staff during a
period of high tension. Received a State Department Superior Honor Award.
Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Yaounde, Cameroun, 1981 - 1983: While in Yaounde, served
twice as temporary Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy in neighboring Ndjamena, Chad, and organized its
reopening following a violent overthrow of the Chadian government.
Deputy and then Acting Coordinator, State Department Office for Liaison with State and Local
Governments, 1978 - 1981: Established an office for working with governors, mayors and state
legislators and managed a program for assigning Foreign Service officers to state and local government.
Received a State Department Superior Honor Award.
Aide to Mayor of Seattle, 1976 - 1978: Detailed to the Mayor's Office of Policy Planning. Prepared a
major study on local government reorganization. Represented the Mayor on the Seattle-Tacoma Airport
Authority and assisted with sewage treatment planning.

David H. Shinn, Page 3

Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Nouakchott, Mauritania, 1974 - 1976: Managed the staff
during two violent, rebel attacks on Nouakchott and the Presidency, which bordered the Embassy
compound.
Previous experience: Political officer, U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A political officer
engages primarily in reporting on political issues, delivers policy messages and develops contacts with
local nationals. State Department country officer for Somalia and Djibouti and assistant for Ethiopia,
followed by country officer for Uganda and Tanzania. A country officer is the point person for all issues
between the U.S. and that country. Political officer, U.S. Embassy Nairobi, Kenya. Consular,
administrative and commercial officer, U.S. Embassy Beirut, Lebanon. Staff aide to Senator Hugh Scott
of Pennsylvania. Part-time in the promotion department of the Washington Post and four summers with
the U.S. Forest Service in Washington State.
LANGUAGES
French: Worked extensively in French when serving in Francophone African posts.
Swahili: Worked regularly in Swahili while serving in Kenya and Tanzania.
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Phi Theta Kappa, the community college scholastic honor society: named International Alumnus of the
Year in 1995.
American Association of Community Colleges: named National Alumnus of the Year in 1994.
MEMBERSHIPS AND BOARD POSITIONS
American Foreign Service Association
Rotary International. (honorary member)
American Philatelic Society
People to People Inc. (advisor)
Adeso (advisory board member)
Middle East Institute
African Studies Association
Sudan Studies Association
Institute of Ethiopian Studies
Phi Theta Kappa Foundation (trustee)
Rumi Forum (advisory board member)
Washington World Affairs Council
Banaa Scholarship Program (board of advisors)
PUBLICATIONS
Numerous book chapters and articles in academic and policy journals.
Co-author Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia (Scarecrow Press 1st edition 2004; 2nd edition 2013).
Co-author China and Africa: A Century of Engagement (University of Pennsylvania Press 2012).
Author Hizmet in Africa: The Activities and Significance of the Glen Movement (Tsehai Publishers
2015)