The Rev. John J. Cavanaugh, C.S.C., Award - 2016: Ambassador Thomas E. McNamara ’64 M.A.

The Rev. John J. Cavanaugh, C.S.C., Award, named in honor of Notre Dame’s 14th president, honors an alumnus or alumna who has performed outstanding service in the field of government or public service. The 2016 recipient of the Cavanaugh Award is Ambassador Thomas E. McNamara ’64 M.A. 

A career diplomat, McNamara served as the United States Ambassador to Colombia from 1988 through 1991. He also held postings in Russia, Congo, and France. He left government in the late 1990s and served as President and CEO of the Americas Society and Council of the Americas in New York from 1998 to 2001.

He returned to government service following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the request of the Secretary of State, who tapped McNamara to serve as senior advisor on terrorism and homeland security. From 2006-09, he was program manager for the Information Sharing Environment, a senior position reporting directly to the president of the United States. He also has served as Assistant Secretary of State, Special Assistant to the President, Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism, Special Negotiator for Panama, and in other senior positions.

McNamara is currently the president of the Diplomacy Center Foundation, a not-for-profit partner of the Department of State that is building the nation’s first-ever museum and educational center completely devoted to American diplomacy.

“I accept this award, not as a personal one, but as a recognition by the Notre Dame community of the importance of diplomacy in a period when diplomacy has been misunderstood and devalued in the eyes of many Americans. I am encouraged by this to continue my efforts to inform the public of the central role of diplomacy in our national security.”