Dafna H. Rand

The Honorable Dafna H. Rand (LinkedIn) served as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor until January 2025. Previously, she directed the U.S. State Department’s Office of Foreign Assistance from 2021-23, overseeing $70 billion in annual U.S. foreign aid. Dr. Rand has held multiple positions in the U.S. government, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, member of the Secretary’s Policy Planning staff, and National Security Council official. Additionally, she served as a professional staff member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI). Outside of government, Dr. Rand’s research and publications have focused on international security and democratic reform, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, with two books on the subject. She has also held leadership roles at Mercy Corps and the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). She is an incoming Robert E. Wilhelm Fellow at the MIT Center for International Studies.