David Smith joined the United Nations Washington, D.C. office as Deputy Director in January 2004 after 30 years as a foreign correspondent, author and professor, and served as Acting Director from August 2004 through August 2005. He brings a unique understanding of how Washington works, with 14 years of experience covering administrations from George Bush Senior to the present White House as well as the Congress. During the same period, he worked regularly as a correspondent at the United Nations in New York.

After reporting from the world’s major flashpoints - Africa, former Soviet Union, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia - he brings first-hand experience of the events and leaders who have shaped our world. He has been based in Madrid, Rome, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Beirut, Tel Aviv, London, Moscow and Washington.

As a commentator, he has appeared on shows such as NBC’s ‘Meet the Press,’ ‘Hardball’ and CNN International, and contributed to newspapers, such as ‘The Observer,' ‘The Sunday Telegraph,' ‘The Guardian’ and ‘The Washington Post’.

He has authored two books: one a biography of Robert Mugabe, the other a study of Israel’s relationship with the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza.  

Educated at Oxford, he has taught at universities in the United States, Britain and Russia as a visiting professor.  He is married with four children and resides in Washington, D.C.