Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, the first female DNI, accepted NATO's "Women for Peace and Security Award" in Montreal, Canada. (Photo Courtesy: NATO Parliamentary Assembly)
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines was awarded the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s “Women for Peace and Security Award” on Nov. 25 during the assembly’s 70th annual session in Montreal. The award recognized the first female director of the U.S. Intelligence Community for promoting the equal participation of women in peace and security issues.
“I realize that it is not really my work that is being recognized, but rather that of the Intelligence Community I have the great privilege to lead, and so I am here today on behalf of the thousands of deeply committed professionals, many of whom are women, who work tirelessly across our NATO intelligence services to keep us safe,” said DNI Haines. “Intelligence professionals who have consistently inspired me over the years as they have given to public service from their lives and talents every measure of dedication and commitment. And they have my deepest respect as well as my gratitude for their efforts.”
Representative Mike Turner, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Head of the U.S. Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, presented DNI Haines with the honor on the final day of the assembly’s annual session. DNI Haines thanked Chairman Turner for his unwavering support of the Intelligence Community before addressing a crowd that included 281 parliament members from the 32 NATO member nations, alongside around 100 members from 25 partner countries and parliamentary bodies.
"As I prepare for what’s next in my own career and life, I find myself reflecting on the hope that most probably have whenever they move on — that they will leave their institution, their mission, and the world better than they found it,” said DNI Haines. “If being the first woman to lead the U.S. Intelligence Community sheds more light on the vast positive impact our intelligence professionals make on the safety and security of the American people, and on peace and security around the world, then I will feel I accomplished at least part of what I set out to do.”
Past winners of the “Women for Peace and Security Award” include Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (leader of the Belarusian democratic forces and head of the country’s United Transition Cabinet, 2023), Olha Stefanishyna (Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, 2022) and Nancy Pelosi (then Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, 2021).
