The David Project

David P. Christensen

American Diplomat • Husband & Father • Teacher • Mentor

Did You Know?

David Christensen was an American diplomat who played a key role in supporting President Ronald Reagan’s Reykjavík Summit with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev — a pivotal moment that helped eliminate an entire class of nuclear weapons.

Bio Narrative

Born in Reno, Nevada, to hardworking Danish immigrant parents, David was an introvert who loved hunting, geology, and collecting rocks.

Following high school, he joined the army.  He finished his stint with a bike trip around Europe with his sister.  [unsure on chonology whether school first or army].

He next studied geology at the Nevada School of Mines, expecting to spend his life on remote mining sites or exploring oil fields.

A professor saw something in him [he always wondered what it was] and encouraged him to take the Foreign Service Exam. David passed, becoming the first Nevadan to join the U.S. Foreign Service.

His first assignment took him to Brussels[BS1] , where he met and later married the Ambassador’s secretary, Elizabeth. Together, they began a lifetime of global adventure. Their next postings brought them to Gabon and Togo, where they developed a deep affection for French West Africa. David became fluent in French and loved sharing stories of sitting with tribal elders, chiefs, and kings, learning through conversation and respect.

One story David was particularly proud of is when David went “undercover” into a secretive French-run African uranium mine to determine how valuable its uranium’s deposits were – a critical mission given the importance of nuclear power.   

Following Africa, David was posted to Washington, D.C., where he worked on the South African Desk and earned a master’s in African studies at Stanford. He later served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Iceland, and when offered the choice between the Senior Foreign Service Seminar (a path toward ambassadorship) or a Science and Technology posting in Australia, David chose the Science and Technology posting.  Next David and family were posted to Jakarta. 

After Jakarta, David and Elizabeth retired to Boise, Idaho, where they built a home filled with stories and memories from every corner of the world.

Ever humble, David applied for a job as a school janitor after returning to Boise. He told friends he liked the idea of being around students and working hard with his hands again. The lead janitor told him he really liked him — but for David’s own good, couldn’t hire him.

In the 1990’s international jobs were scarce.  Later, he interviewed with a company whose representative joked that they’d hire him if they ever had a nuclear treaty to negotiate.

Fortunately, Jim Hawkins, head of Idaho’s Department of Commerce, invited David to volunteer with the new International Division. Within a month, David was leading it — helping Idaho businesses expand globally and creating thousands of jobs. He served in this role for nearly two decades, working closely with Governors Kempthorne, Andrus, Risch, and Batt.

David reinvented himself again as an adjunct professor at Boise State University, where he taught international business, African history, and global relations for more than a decade. Students repeatedly voted him Best Professor at Boise State, drawn to his humor, openness, and passion for his subjects — especially African history.

Following his long and varied career, David and Elizabeth enjoyed one last great adventure: crossing Alaska to the Arctic Circle along the Dempster Highway.

Later, as health challenges arose, they moved to The Terraces Retirement Community. When Elizabeth transitioned to memory care, David went with her. He told friends that Elizabeth had always been there for him — and now it was his opportunity to be there for her.

That quiet devotion captured who David truly was: a man of intellect, integrity, and unshakable kindness — in diplomacy, in community, and in love.

Life Highlights

• Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Reykjavík, Iceland

• Key liaison during the 1986 Reykjavík Summit between the U.S. and USSR

• Served in Brussels, Gabon, Togo, Washington D.C., Jakarta and Canberra

• Fluent in French

• Led Idaho’s International Division for nearly 20 years, expanding global trade and mentorship

• Adjunct Professor, Boise State University — voted Best Professor multiple times

• Retired in Boise with his wife Elizabeth; later cared for her at The Terraces Retirement Community

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 [BS1]there is a spy story that David participated in Brussels, but I cannot remember the details (BS)