Avril Haines facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Avril Haines
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Official portrait, 2021
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| 7th Director of National Intelligence | |
| In office January 21, 2021 – January 20, 2025 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | John Ratcliffe |
| Succeeded by | Tulsi Gabbard |
| 27th United States Deputy National Security Advisor | |
| In office January 11, 2015 – January 20, 2017 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Leader | Susan Rice |
| Preceded by | Antony Blinken |
| Succeeded by | K. T. McFarland |
| 4th Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | |
| In office August 9, 2013 – January 10, 2015 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Director | John Brennan |
| Preceded by | Michael Morell |
| Succeeded by | David S. Cohen |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Avril Danica Haines
August 27, 1969 New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | David Davighi |
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| Education | |
Avril Danica Haines (born August 27, 1969) is an American lawyer. She served as the seventh Director of National Intelligence in the Biden administration. This important role made her the first woman to hold the position. Before this, Haines was the Deputy National Security Advisor and Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) during the Obama administration. She also worked as a legal advisor in the White House.
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Early Life and Education
Avril Haines was born in New York City on August 27, 1969. She grew up in Manhattan. Her mother, Adrian Rappin, was a painter. Her father, Thomas H. Haines, was a biochemist. He helped create the CUNY School of Medicine.
After graduating from Hunter College High School, Haines spent a year in Japan. There, she studied judo at a special institute in Tokyo. In 1988, she started studying physics at the University of Chicago. While in college, she worked repairing car engines. She also took flying lessons and met her future husband, David Davighi. She earned her degree in physics in 1992.
In 1992, Haines moved to Baltimore. She started a doctoral program in physics at Johns Hopkins University. However, she later left the program. With her husband, she bought a bar and turned it into a bookstore and café. She named it Adrian's Book Cafe, after her mother. The store was known for its unique collection of books. Haines was also president of the Fell's Point Business Association until 1998.
In 1998, she began studying law at the Georgetown University Law Center. She received her law degree in 2001.
Career in Government
Early Public Service
In 2001, Haines started her career as a legal officer. She then worked as a law clerk for a federal judge. From 2003 to 2006, she worked in the Office of the Legal Adviser of the Department of State. She handled international agreements and political-military issues. From 2007 to 2008, she worked for the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. She was a Deputy Chief Counsel for the Senate Democrats.
Working with President Obama
From 2008 to 2010, Haines worked for the United States Department of State. She was an assistant legal adviser for treaty affairs. In 2010, she joined the White House Counsel's office. She served as Deputy Counsel to the President for National Security Affairs.
In 2013, President Obama nominated Haines for a new role. She became the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). This was a significant step, as she was the first woman to hold this position. She started this role on August 9, 2013.
Reviewing Intelligence Reports
In 2015, while at the CIA, Haines was involved in reviewing a report. This report was about certain intelligence activities. She made decisions about how to handle information related to this report. She also helped prepare a version of the report for public release.
After her time as Deputy Director of the CIA, Haines became the Deputy National Security Advisor. She was the first woman to hold this position as well.
Policy on Drone Operations
During the Obama administration, Haines worked on policies for drone operations. These operations targeted suspected terrorists. She helped create the legal rules and guidelines for these actions. Human rights groups raised concerns about civilian casualties. Haines's work aimed to ensure these operations followed legal standards.
Work in the Private Sector
After leaving the White House, Haines took on several roles at Columbia University. She was a senior research scholar and deputy director for the Columbia World Projects. This program uses academic research to solve global challenges. She also became a fellow at the Human Rights Institute at Columbia Law School.
Haines was also a member of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. She was a distinguished fellow at Syracuse University.
Consulting Roles
Haines also worked as a consultant for private companies. She consulted for Palantir Technologies, a company that develops software for data analysis. She was also an employee of WestExec Advisors. This consulting firm works with technology companies seeking government contracts.
Director of National Intelligence (2021–2025)
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On November 23, 2020, Joe Biden, then the president-elect, announced his choice for Director of National Intelligence. He nominated Avril Haines for the position. This made her the first woman ever nominated for this role.
Before her confirmation hearing, some people raised questions about her past decisions. Specifically, they asked about her role in reviewing intelligence reports from 2015.
During her Senate confirmation hearing on January 19, 2021, Haines answered many questions. She promised to follow laws requiring the intelligence community to share certain reports. She also stated that there are "better" and more humane ways to gather intelligence than harsh methods.
Senators also asked Haines about U.S.–China relations. Haines described China as both a competitor and a country the U.S. tries to cooperate with. She promised a strong response to unfair practices by China. She also mentioned seeking China's help with the climate crisis.
When asked about the storming of the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, Haines said the FBI is responsible for domestic threats. She committed to working with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security to assess public threats.
On January 20, 2021, the Senate confirmed Haines in an 84–10 vote. She was the first person nominated by the Biden administration to be confirmed. Vice President Kamala Harris swore her into office the next day.
In May 2022, Haines warned about efforts by Russia and China. She noted their attempts to build stronger ties with U.S. partners worldwide. She mentioned Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as examples.
In 2024, the Australian Government awarded Haines the Australian Intelligence Medal. This award recognized her "distinguished service to the National Intelligence Community." In November 2024, she received the NATO Parliamentary Assembly's "Women for Peace and Security Award."
See also
In Spanish: Avril Haines para niños
