Ambassador David Killion

David Killion is a former U.S. government official, diplomat, and Capitol Hill veteran. In 2009, he was nominated by President Obama to serve as the U.S. Permanent Representative with the rank of Ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, France. After Senate confirmation, he served as U.S. Ambassador to UNESCO until 2014.

Following his return from Paris, Killion became the first bipartisan Chief of Staff of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) in Washington, D.C. He held this role from 2014 to 2018, having been jointly appointed by Commission Chairman Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Ranking Member Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS).

Before his ambassadorship, from 2001 to 2009, Killion was a Senior Professional Staff Member of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, where he served as the Committee’s expert on State Department operations, international organizations, and international education. Earlier, from 1996 to 2001, he was a Clinton Administration appointee at the U.S. Department of State, working as a Senior Legislative Management Officer. From 1994 to 1996, he served as a Legislative Assistant to Congressman David Skaggs (D-CO).

Ambassador Killion holds a BA from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, and an MA from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Since moving to Santa Fe in 2018, Killion has worked as a Foreign Affairs Consultant. He can be reached via email at davidtkillion@gmail.com.