Experience

Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs

• United States
• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Ambassador (ret.) and Editorial Advisor

  • Mar 2019 - Present

  Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States U.S. Ambassador (retired) serves as Editorial Advisor to the Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs. Collaborates with other partner institutions on projects including teaching diplomacy courses and using diplomacy simulations to develop leaders and ideas to enhance security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. Also facilitates discussions, lectures, writes, advises, and mentors. Speaks Japanese and Chinese.



The United States Army War College

• United States
• Armed Forces
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Diplomatic Advisor to the Commandant

  • Jan 2015 - Sep 2018

  Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States On detail from State as the senior interagency member of the small Command Group advising the Commandant, won support for increasing the academic focus on diplomacy at the Army War College. Conceived and organized the Army War College’s first-ever Workshop on Diplomacy Education for Senior Military Leaders. Participating partners included the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute, Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Pennsylvania State University, and the various… Show more On detail from State as the senior interagency member of the small Command Group advising the Commandant, won support for increasing the academic focus on diplomacy at the Army War College. Conceived and organized the Army War College’s first-ever Workshop on Diplomacy Education for Senior Military Leaders. Participating partners included the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute, Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Pennsylvania State University, and the various (Air, Naval, Marine, National, Eisenhower School) U.S. War Colleges. Filled a gap in the curriculum at the Army War College by working with State Department faculty colleagues to design and teach a diplomacy elective; previously, there had been no diplomacy elective taught at the Army War College. Delivered lectures on the diplomatic instrument of power in settings ranging from large gatherings of the student body to intimate seminars with future Army strategists. Team-taught the Regional Studies Program Asia Pacific course. Guided the diplomatic aspects of Army War College-led strategic simulations (wargames) for experiential learning about complex security problems like the South China Sea. Partner institutions included leading graduate schools in international relations and think tanks around the country. Used Blackboard for distance education. Show less



U.S. Department of State

• United States
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Charge d'Affaires, U.S. Mission to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (USASEAN)

  • May 2017 - Nov 2017

  Greater Jakarta Area, Indonesia In response to an urgent request from the leadership of the State Department’s East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau, temporarily left the Army War College for six months to lead the U.S. Mission to ASEAN on an acting basis (as Chargé d’Affaires) in the absence of a U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN. Led the overseas aspects on the policy preparations for the U.S. participation in the ASEAN-related Summits in Manila in 2017. Briefed the then-Secretaries of State and Defense. Took the lead on… Show more In response to an urgent request from the leadership of the State Department’s East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau, temporarily left the Army War College for six months to lead the U.S. Mission to ASEAN on an acting basis (as Chargé d’Affaires) in the absence of a U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN. Led the overseas aspects on the policy preparations for the U.S. participation in the ASEAN-related Summits in Manila in 2017. Briefed the then-Secretaries of State and Defense. Took the lead on negotiations with U.S. allies, ASEAN, China, Russia, and others on the U.S.-proposed Leaders Statement on Chemical Weapons and on three other statements issued by the world leaders at the East Asia Summit. Working with the U.S. Mission to ASEAN team, convened a Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Summit involving approximately 250 leaders from all 10 ASEAN countries. Show less



U.S. Department of State

• United States
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Ambassador to Brunei, U.S. Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan

  • Mar 2011 - Dec 2014

  Brunei Darussalam Led the Embassy team that worked with Brunei to launch an unprecedented project to strengthen ASEAN through education in English, the only common language in ASEAN. Brunei provided the funding for the $25 million, five-year project, which was implemented jointly by Universiti Brunei Darussalam and the East-West Center in Hawaii. Worked with colleagues in Washington and Brunei to arrange a Washington visit by the Sultan of Brunei; briefed and prepped former President Obama for his meeting with… Show more Led the Embassy team that worked with Brunei to launch an unprecedented project to strengthen ASEAN through education in English, the only common language in ASEAN. Brunei provided the funding for the $25 million, five-year project, which was implemented jointly by Universiti Brunei Darussalam and the East-West Center in Hawaii. Worked with colleagues in Washington and Brunei to arrange a Washington visit by the Sultan of Brunei; briefed and prepped former President Obama for his meeting with the Sultan and participated in the Oval Office meeting. Supported an estimated 1,100 American jobs by helping the U.S. company Sikorsky win a contract to sell to Brunei 12 Blackhawk helicopters worth approximately $200 million in U.S. export content. Advocated effectively for Sikorsky, engaging Brunei’s senior officials and technical experts to help Sikorsky navigate the complexities of Brunei’s newly redesigned defense procurement system. The President of Sikorsky wrote to then-Secretary of State Kerry, stating that “my team and I are extremely thankful to Ambassador Daniel Shields and his team for the unwavering support and leadership they have provided to our company throughout this important campaign.” Worked closely with Boeing to facilitate its delivery of 787 Dreamliners to Royal Brunei Airlines, the first Dreamliners to go into service anywhere in Southeast Asia. Directed the Embassy in support of multiple visits to Brunei by U.S. Cabinet Secretaries leading up to the expected attendance by President Obama of the 2013 ASEAN-related Summits in Brunei. When the 2013 U.S. government shutdown forced the President to cancel his trip at the last minute, rallied the Embassy team to pull together and ensure a successful visit by the President’s representative, then-Secretary of State Kerry.

• Director, Office of Mainland Southeast Asian Affairs

  • Aug 2010 - Mar 2011

  U.S. Department of State Coordinated the Washington aspects of the diplomacy of persuading the Government of Thailand to turn over to the U.S. government an individual then in Thai custody who was considered perhaps the most notorious arms dealer in the world. He is now serving his prison sentence in the United States. Led the Mainland Southeast Asia team in navigating interagency processes to implement a new U.S. policy course on Myanmar after the military regime there allowed democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi to… Show more Coordinated the Washington aspects of the diplomacy of persuading the Government of Thailand to turn over to the U.S. government an individual then in Thai custody who was considered perhaps the most notorious arms dealer in the world. He is now serving his prison sentence in the United States. Led the Mainland Southeast Asia team in navigating interagency processes to implement a new U.S. policy course on Myanmar after the military regime there allowed democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi to go free and contest elections following the conclusion of her term of house arrest.

• Deputy Chief of Mission/Charge d'Affaires, U.S. Embassy Singapore

  • Aug 2007 - Jul 2010

  Singapore Assigned to Embassy as the Deputy Chief of Mission and led this complex Embassy, used by several U.S. government agencies as their regional hub for Asia, as Chargé for about 15 months to cover an extended gap between Ambassadors. Built strong bonds across agency lines, reflected in the cohesion and resilience the Embassy showed when many of its members had to take on unfamiliar roles in an all-hands effort to ensure the success of the 2009 Singapore visit by former President Obama for the Asia… Show more Assigned to Embassy as the Deputy Chief of Mission and led this complex Embassy, used by several U.S. government agencies as their regional hub for Asia, as Chargé for about 15 months to cover an extended gap between Ambassadors. Built strong bonds across agency lines, reflected in the cohesion and resilience the Embassy showed when many of its members had to take on unfamiliar roles in an all-hands effort to ensure the success of the 2009 Singapore visit by former President Obama for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. Used the opportunity of the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore to help organize the first-ever trilateral meeting between the Secretaries/Ministers of Defense of the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, which enabled the three governments to make a coordinated response to a North Korean nuclear test.

• Political Minister Counselor, U.S. Embassy Beijing

  • Aug 2004 - Jul 2007

  Beijing City, China Headed the Embassy Beijing Political Section in providing support for intensive but ultimately unsuccessful diplomatic efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through the Beijing-based Six-Party Talks involving the United States, China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan and Russia. Led the team that arranged visit after visit by Assistant Secretary Chris Hill, the lead U.S. negotiator; worked with the Chinese and the North Koreans on… Show more Headed the Embassy Beijing Political Section in providing support for intensive but ultimately unsuccessful diplomatic efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through the Beijing-based Six-Party Talks involving the United States, China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan and Russia. Led the team that arranged visit after visit by Assistant Secretary Chris Hill, the lead U.S. negotiator; worked with the Chinese and the North Koreans on sensitive scheduling and protocol issues; and produced quick, accurate reporting for Washington on the Six-Party Talks. Mentored multiple officers now serving as Ambassadors or in other senior leadership positions.

• Political Section Deputy, U.S. Embassy Tokyo

  • Aug 2002 - Jul 2004

  Tokyo, Japan Advanced U.S. policy objectives by arranging for Komeito, the junior party in Japan’s ruling coalition at the time, to send a delegation to visit Iraq; efforts enabled Komeito to support the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in deploying Japanese military elements to Iraq to provide humanitarian support in connection with Operation Iraqi Freedom.