Featured: Speaking Truth to Power
This week St Andrews’ alumna Dr Fiona Hill, a former National Security Council Senior Director for Europe and Russia, joined fellow alumnus David Holmes, an aide to the top US diplomat in Ukraine, to testify before the House Intelligence Committee as part of its impeachment hearings in to President Donald Trump.
Dr Fiona Hill, who has served under three American Presidents, studied Russian and modern history at the University, graduating in 1991. Dr Hill is a former Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Europe and Russia. Before returning to government, she was a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution where she was Director for the Centre on the United States and Europe. She previously worked at the National Intelligence Council, the Eurasia Foundation and the John F. Kennedy School of Government. She is an expert on Russia and Vladimir Putin. Dr Hill resigned in July of 2019, one week before President Trump had the infamous call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky which is now at the centre of the House Intelligence Committee as part of its impeachment inquiry into President Trump.
David Holmes is the Political Counsellor at the US Embassy in Kiev. He is a career foreign service officer, having previously served in Moscow, and Kabul. He served as Special Assistant to the United States Secretary of State. He graduated from St Andrews with an MA in International Relations before completing his studies at Princeton in 2002.
David told the committees leading the impeachment probe that he overheard President Trump asking EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland about the Ukrainian President’s willingness to carry out investigations.
You can watch the full testimonies via C-Span.
Thankful for these thoughtful people! Kudos to St Andrews, also my alma mater, PhD 1993!
Thank you for sharing this information, indeed two brilliant and honest minds, leading by example. Glad they serve as role models for your current IR students, including my daughter. And thanks to all faculties involved in preparing our much-need, next generation of virtuous diplomats. Warm regards
The consensus in the US was, Dr Hill was "wow, really impressive," and had an incredible possession of the facts. Everyone I spoke with here was "blown away" by her testimony. There we go, authentic American superlatives! Hats off to you, Fiona, I was indeed impressed and only later did I discover we both went to St. A's! "ye fecht the Uni prood, lass!" David did an amazing presentation as well. I am now doubly impressed with our alumni!