Ambassador O’Donnell is the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Alekain. He is also the Co-Founder of the ASU Lab for Leadership, Diplomacy, and National Security, and serves as a Professor of Practice in the School of Politics and Global Studies and the Barrett Honors College. He teaches undergraduate courses such as Diplomacy/Policy Design Studio 1 (POS 494) and Washington Internship (POS 484), as well as the graduate-level online course “The Holocaust and WWII Today” (MA IAL MA WWS), and other graduate courses, including “Diplomacy in Action” and “International Negotiations.”
Ambassador O’Donnell retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2007 after 33 years, serving in various roles in Latin America, German-speaking Europe, and Washington, D.C. His roles included Charge, Deputy Chief of Mission, and Consul General in countries like Germany, Austria, and Colombia. In Washington, he focused on Holocaust issues and civil aviation rights, serving as Executive Assistant to three Under Secretaries.
After retirement, he has worked as a Senior Strategy Advisor for Diplomatic Security, a mentor and advisor to the Afghan Minister of Counter Narcotics, and a State Department inspector. From 2009 to 2011, he was Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Congressional Relations Bureau.
