Education
College of William & Mary.
College of William & Mary.
Prior to this position, he was Counselor of the United States Department of State and United States. Ambassador to Brazil from 2009 to 2013. Previously he served as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, leading the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs of the United States. Department of State from 2005 through 2009. Shannon holds an The Master of Philosophy (1982) and Doctorate.Phil.
(1982), both in politics, from Oxford University, and a Bachelor of Arts with high honors in government and philosophy from the College of William & Mary (1980).
During his career as a Foreign Service Officer he has served as Special Assistant to the Ambassador at the United States. Embassy in Brasília, Brazil from 1989 to 1992. As Country Officer for Cameroon, Gabon, and São Tomé and Príncipe from 1987 to 1989.
And as the Consular/Political Rotational Officer at the United States. Embassy in Guatemala City, Guatemala from 1984 to 1986. Shannon served as Director for Inter-American Affairs at the National Security Council from 1999 to 2000.
As Political Counselor at the United States. Embassy in Caracas, from 1996 to 1999.
And as Regional Labor Attaché at the United States. Consulate General in Johannesburg, South Africa from 1992 to 1996. From 2002 to 2003, he was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the Department of State, where he was Director of Andean Affairs from 2001 to 2002. He was United States. Deputy Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (Organization of American States) from 2000 to 2001.
A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Shannon served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council from 2003 to 2005.