Heather Brandon-Smith

Heather Brandon-Smith (@HBrandonSmith) is Legislative Director for Militarism and Human Rights at the Friends Committee for National Legislation (FCNL). She leads the organization’s work to repeal the 2001 authorization for war, promote respect for human rights and international law, and reduce U.S. armed interventions around the world.

Prior to joining FCNL, Heather served as the Advocacy Counsel for National Security at Human Rights First, where she worked to advance U.S. national security policies that are consistent with human rights and the rule of law.

She specializes in the domestic and international legal frameworks governing the use of force and has worked to reform key post-9/11 counterterrorism policies, including indefinite detention and military commissions at Guantanamo and U.S. war authorities, including the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF).

Heather holds an LL.M. from Georgetown University Law School, where she graduated with distinction and was co-chair of Georgetown Law’s Human Rights Action – Amnesty International LL.M. committee. Heather taught at the University of New South Wales Law School and Macquarie University Law School (both in Sydney) and worked at the law firm Ashurst in Sydney. She has a B.A. in Politics and International Relations/LL.B. and an LL.M. from the University of New South Wales. She is also on LinkedIn.