Smith, Dana Shell, 1970-

<p>Dana Shell Smith is the CEO of Decibel Strategy, an international strategy firm she founded to advance business, trade and professional ties between the United States and the Middle East.</p>

<p>Ambassador Smith is a proven leader and trailblazer in the fields of foreign affairs, crisis communications, media outreach and commercial diplomacy. Before founding Decibel Strategy, Ambassador Smith spent 25 years as a diplomat, working throughout the Middle East and in Asia.</p>

<p>Dana served as the U.S. Ambassador to the State of Qatar from 2014-2017. During her tenure, Ambassador Smith successfully advocated for billions of dollars in U.S. business and investment opportunities in Qatar, and Qatari investment in the U.S. to over $70 billion. She negotiated base access for the international coalition fighting ISIL and furthered partnerships in the fields of education and culture.</p>

<p>As Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs from 2011 to 2014, Ambassador Smith managed strategic communications, global media relations and crisis communications for Secretaries Clinton and Kerry. In a career spanning the tenures of Secretaries Christopher, Albright, Powell, Rice, Clinton, Kerry and Tillerson, Ambassador Smith served as a spokesperson and public affairs officer in Dubai, Taipei, Amman, Gaza, Tel Aviv and Cairo.</p>

<p>She speaks fluent Arabic and is proficient in Chinese, Hebrew and Spanish. A mother of two, wife of a Diplomatic Security Special Agent, and mentor to many, Ambassador Smith published her thoughts on work and life in “How to Have an Insanely Demanding Job and Two Happy Kids,” for The Atlantic, June 2012. Ambassador Smith has a degree in Political Science, Middle East Studies and Women’s Studies from the University of California, San Diego.</p>

<p>Dana Shell Smith (born 1970) is a former American diplomat and career Foreign Service Officer who served as the United States Ambassador to Qatar from July 2014 to June 2017. She was confirmed by the Senate as the U.S. Ambassador to Qatar on July 10, 2014. Previously, she served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs from 2011 to 2014 and as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Media.</p>

<p>In 1992, she graduated from the University of California at San Diego with a bachelor's degree in political science and Middle East studies.</p>

<p>Smith was confirmed by the Senate as the U.S. Ambassador to Qatar on July 10, 2014. She presented her credentials to Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on September 8, 2014. Previously, she served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs from 2011 to 2014 and as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Media.</p>

<p>On June 13, 2017 Smith announced that she would be resigning her post later that month. State Department records indicate June 20, 2017 as her official date of departure from service. Since leaving government service, she has been highly critical of the changes in the State Department under the Trump administration, describing the situation as a "disaster waiting to happen".</p>

<p>Prior to her assignments in the Bureau of Public Affairs, Smith was the State Department's Regional Arabic Language Spokesperson in Dubai. She served in a number of positions including as Senior Advisor to the Director General and overseas tours of duty in Taipei (as Chief of the Public Affairs Section and Spokesperson, American Institute in Taiwan), Amman, Tel Aviv/Gaza, and Cairo.</p>

<p>Smith speaks Arabic, Chinese, Spanish and Hebrew. She is married to Diplomatic Security Officer Ray Smith and they have two children. Her brother is Jeff Shell.</p>