Brendan H. Doherty is Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs at the U.S. State Department, where he advises on issues of human security, conflict prevention and response, and Africa.  Prior to this, he was Chief of Party for the Public International Law and Policy Group in Nepal, providing legal and policy expertise to Nepal’s parliament, political parties, multilateral institutions, and civil society on constitutional drafting and implementation.  He has previously served as Deputy in the U.S. Office of War Crimes Issues, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, political officer in U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa, and a scuba instructor.  He received his J.D. from Boston University School of Law and his B.A. from the University of Delaware.  While at Boston University, he successfully argued a federal asylum case and won his client asylum.  He is a former Presidential Management Fellow.  Brendan grew up on Cape Cod and returns often to see his family and the ocean.