Ambassador David F. Girard-diCarlo, Ret. distinguished himself in law, politics and civic activities throughout his career. He was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2008 to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Austria. In that role, Ambassador Girard-diCarlo oversaw more than 500 U.S. and Austrian employees at the Embassy as well as the operations of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Vienna and the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Prior to his diplomatic appointment, Ambassador Girard-diCarlo served for 22 years as the managing partner and then chairman of Blank Rome LLP. He also served as chairman and CEO of Blank Rome Government Relations LLC from 1996 to 2008. After his diplomatic service, Ambassador Girard-diCarlo was a member and shareholder of Cozen O’Connor from 2009 to 2012, where he provided strategic advice to clients in the banking, health care, education, transportation and service industries.

Actively involved in politics for more than three decades, Ambassador Girard-diCarlo held positions with numerous local, state and federal campaigns and served as co-chairman of the host committee for the 2000 Republican National Convention held in Philadelphia. Ambassador Girard-diCarlo served on the boards of numerous public companies and governmental entities, including PNC Financial Services Group, Midlantic Corporation, Continental Bank, Pennoni Associates, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK) and the Philadelphia School Reform Commission. He served as chairman of the board of both the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

An active participant in the cultural communities in which he lived and worked, Ambassador Girard-diCarlo served in leadership positions at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Orchestra Association, the Gettysburg Foundation, the National Constitution Center and Saint Joseph’s University, among others. Ambassador Girard-diCarlo has received numerous awards and honors, including the Americanism Award from the Anti-Defamation League; the Judge Learned Hand Human Relations Award from the American Jewish Committee; and the Pontifical Honor of Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, conferred upon him by Pope John Paul II for his work as chairman of Business Leaders Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS).

Ambassador Girard-diCarlo has been an active Villanova University alumnus throughout the years, having served as Chairman and now life member of the Board of Consultors of Villanova University School of Law. In 2003, Ambassador Girard-diCarlo was recognized for his ongoing commitment to Villanova Law as recipient of its Gerald Abraham Award for Distinguished Service. He has chaired major fundraising campaigns for the Law School, including the Reuschlein Fund (the Law School’s first capital campaign) and the Campaign for Villanova Law (which helped fund the construction of the current School of Law building). As part of that second campaign, Ambassador and Mrs. Girard-diCarlo generously donated the funding for the Student Lounge.

Born in Bryn Mawr, Pa., Ambassador Girard-diCarlo graduated from Saint Joseph’s University in 1970 with a BA in History. While in law school, he was editor-in-chief of The Villanova Law Review.

Source: https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/law/newsroom/pressreleases/2015/0203.html

Photo: http://www.p2012.org/photos11/huntsman062111c.html

Photo: https://archive.secureenergy.org/about/diplomatic-council-on-energy-security/