Danny Ayalon, born Daniel Ayalon on December 17, 1955, in Tel Aviv, Israel, to two civil servant parents, is an Israeli diplomat, politician, economist, and columnist. Raised and educated in Tel Aviv, he holds a BA in economics from Tel Aviv University and an MBA from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces, rising to the rank of captain in the Armored Corps. Prior to entering diplomacy, Ayalon worked as a senior finance executive at Koor Industries, Israel's leading conglomerate. His diplomatic career began as Deputy Chief of Mission in Panama from 1991 to 1992 and as Director of the Bureau of Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations in New York from 1993 to 1997. He served as a senior foreign policy advisor to Prime Ministers Ariel Sharon, Ehud Barak, and Benjamin Netanyahu. From 2002 to 2006, he was Israel's Ambassador to the United States. Entering politics, he became a former Likud member of the Knesset and served as Deputy Foreign Minister, known as a staunch advocate for Israeli positions internationally. Post-government, Ayalon has continued as a columnist and public speaker promoting Israel's interests.