Timmy Davis, former U.S. ambassador to Qatar, to address graduates at VCU’s December commencement

Timmy Davis, former U.S. ambassador to Qatar, will be the featured speaker at Virginia Commonwealth University's December commencement.

Born at Quantico and raised across various Marine Corps bases, Davis merged military discipline and diplomatic commitment as a career member of the nation's Senior Foreign Service, achieving the rank of minister counselor. His capstone: serving for three years, from 2022 to 2025, as U.S. ambassador to Qatar.

Davis served in the Marine Corps from 1993 to 2003 - with stops including the Horn of Africa and Iraq - before he pivoted to the Foreign Service. Among his notable roles was serving as executive assistant to Secretaries of State Michael Pompeo and Antony Blinken. He also served as U.S. consul general in Basra, Iraq, and his other overseas tours stretched from capital cities in Guatemala and Colombia to Australia.

Davis' domestic assignments included senior watch officer in the State Department Operations Center, special assistant to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, director for Iraq at the National Security Council, deputy chief of staff to the special presidential envoy to counter ISIL, and acting chief of staff in the State Department.

Davis currently is president and partner at Irth Capital Management, a global asset management firm, and is senior advisor at Mavik Capital. He serves on numerous boards, including Qatar Museums.

VCU will hold universitywide commencement exercises on Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.