Lawyer, diplomat, mediator and author, Ambassador David Carden (Ret.) served as the first resident U.S. Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.  As U.S. Ambassador, he oversaw the broadening engagement of the United States in Southeast Asia, which included the Obama Administration’s 2011 “pivot” or “rebalance” to the region. His responsibilities included supporting ASEAN economic integration and advocating for the systemic changes necessary to promote peaceful and prosperous growth in the region.

Under his leadership, the U.S. Mission addressed the issues inherent in realizing ASEAN’s aspirations. These included: economic development, trade liberalization, intellectual property protection, developing the rule of law and more effective governance, human rights, pandemic prevention and preparedness, advancing health care and educational opportunities, terrestrial and maritime environmental protection, managing the region’s fisheries and natural resources, responding to deforestation and climate change, food and water security, and advancing programs to increase the resilience of ASEAN’s people and institutions. In recognition of his efforts, Ambassador Carden was awarded the Department of State’s Superior Honor Award in December 2013.

Prior to his Ambassadorship, he was a partner in the New York Office of Jones Day, where he co-chaired the Securities Litigation & SEC Enforcement Practice. He has represented clients in some of the largest securities fraud class actions ever litigated, including the defense of Lehman Brothers in the Enron Litigation and Union Excess in the In Re AIG Securities Litigation. He was special litigation counsel in the Lehman Brothers Holding Bankruptcy and was responsible for coordinating the defense of litigation and conducting investigations in numerous foreign jurisdictions. Following his Ambassadorship, he returned to Jones Day where he was Partner-in- Charge of Asia and was responsible for their offices and practices in the region. He retired from Jones Day in 2018.

He is the author of Mapping ASEAN: Achieving Peace, Prosperity and Sustainability in Southeast Asia and a frequent contributor to publications, including Foreign Policy, Politico, and The Strategic Review, on foreign and U.S. domestic policy.