Daniel R. Russel

Daniel R. Russel (born December 12, 1953) is an American diplomat who served as the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 2013 to 2017. Prior to his appointment as Assistant Secretary, Russel was Special Assistant to the President and National Security Staff Senior Director for Asian Affairs. He was a major figure in the Obama administration's "pivot towards Asia" strategy.

Russel is currently Vice President for International Security and Diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York.

Early career and education

Russel is from New Rochelle, New York. He was educated at Sarah Lawrence College and University College, University of London, UK.

In 1996, Russel was awarded the State Department's Una Chapman Cox Fellowship sabbatical and wrote America’s Place in the World, a book published by Georgetown University.