A Conversation with Avril Haines, Deputy National Security Advisor

On November 16, Deputy National Security Advisor Avril Haines visited Yale Law School for a series of discussions with students and faculty. In addition to speaking at a foreign policy seminar and attending a small breakfast with students, Ms. Haines participated in a lunchtime discussion moderated by Professor Harold Koh, Sterling Professor of International Law, and Stephen Preston, former General Counsel of the Department of Defense. Ms. Haines discussed the differences in the challenges faced by lawyers and policymakers in the national security sphere, and shared thoughts on how she has navigated her career in government.

Prior to her appointment as Deputy National Security Advisor, Haines served as Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. She has held numerous positions in the US government, including in the Department of State, the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Relations and the White House.