Ambassador David McKean

David McKean served as U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg from 2016-17. He previously held the position of director of policy planning at the Department of State from 2013 until 2016, and is a recipient of the distinguished honor and superior honor awards.

Before joining the Department of State, McKean was a public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (2011-12). He previously worked as CEO of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation in Boston (2010-11), staff director for the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (2009-10), and chief of staff to Senator John F. Kerry (1999-2008). McKean also served as minority staff director on the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (1997-98), deputy chief counsel on the U.S. Senate Campaign Finance Investigation (1997), and special counsel on the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (1995-97). Prior to that, he served as chief of staff to Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy (1994-95) and as legislative assistant to U.S. Senator John F. Kerry (1987-92). McKean also taught at the Waterford Kamhlaba School in Swaziland (1981-82).

He has authored four books on American political history: Suspected of Independence: The Life of Thomas McKean; Friends in High Places with Douglas Frantz, a New York Times notable book; Tommy the Cork, a Washington Post book world cover and best book; and The Great Decision with Cliff Sloan, a History Book of the Month Club selection. He served for many years as a board member for the Foundation for the National Archives.

McKean is a graduate of Harvard College, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and Duke University School of Law.