Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. was confirmed as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs on February 12, 2016. Previously, Ambassador Shannon served as a Counselor of the Department. He has also served briefly as Senior Advisor to the Secretary following his return from Brazil, where he served as Ambassador for nearly four years. He is a Career Ambassador in the Senior Foreign Service and is only the seventh Foreign Service Officer to hold the position of Counselor since WWII, and the first in 32 years. During his thirty year career with the Foreign Service, Amb. Shannon has also served in numerous positions in Washing, DC at the Department of State, the National Security Council, and as a representative to the Organization of American States with the rank of Ambassador in addition to serving overseas in Venezuela, South Africa, Brazil and Guatemala. This event costs $25 and includes lunch.