David F. Girard-diCarlo

Ambassador David F. Girard-diCarlo was sworn in by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on July 1, 2008. Ambassador Girard-diCarlo officially assumed his post as Ambassador after presenting his diplomatic credentials to Austrian President Heinz Fischer on September 10, 2008.

Ambassador Girard-diCarlo served at Blank Rome LLP for 16 years as managing partner and CEO prior to becoming chairman in 2000, and he also served as chairman and CEO of Blank Rome Government Relations LLC, headquartered in Washington, DC.

Ambassador Girard-diCarlo was Pennsylvania Governor Richard L. Thornburgh's appointee to the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) from 1979-1982 and served as its chairman of the board. In 1981, he was elected as chairman of the American Public Transit Association (APTA) for a one-year term. Ambassador Girard-diCarlo was appointed by former President George Bush in 1990 to serve as a member of the board of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK), a position he held until 1993.

In addition to Ambassador Girard-diCarlo's professional responsibilities, his experience over the past three decades involved his active participation in the business and cultural organizations within the communities in which he lived and worked. He served in leadership positions at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Philadelphia Orchestra and Academy of Music, the Walnut Street Theatre, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the Arizona Heart Foundation - to mention a few. In 1999, he received the Judge Learned Hand Human Relations Award from the American Jewish Committee. He served on the board of Villanova University School of Law, from which he received the Gerald Abraham Award for Distinguished Service in 2003. Also in 2003, Pope John Paul II conferred upon him the Pontifical Honor of Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great for his work with Business Leaders Organized for Catholic Schools.

Ambassador Girard-diCarlo holds a J.D. from Villanova University School of Law and a B.S. in history from St. Joseph's University.

Ambassadorial Post(s)

Austria, (2008 - 2009)

Areas of Expertise