Laura A. Dickinson

Laura A. Dickinson serves as the Lyle T. Alverson Professor of Law at The George Washington University Law School, where she focuses on national security, human rights, the law of armed conflict, and foreign affairs privatization. Her distinguished career bridges academic scholarship with significant government service.

Education:

• AB, Harvard University
• JD, Yale University

Professor Dickinson's research centers on the privatization of military and security functions, examining how this trend impacts core public values and developing mechanisms to protect these values. Her work spans international law, national security policy, human rights enforcement, and the legal frameworks governing private military contractors. She has made significant contributions to understanding the intersection of public values and private actors in the international arena, with particular attention to accountability mechanisms and regulatory frameworks.

Her recent scholarship (2020-2025) demonstrates continued engagement with pressing national security issues including National Guard deployments, military privatization, and international legal responses to conflict. Her publications reveal a consistent focus on constitutional boundaries, accountability structures, and the evolving relationship between public authority and private actors in security contexts.

Scientific Awards:

• Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service

Professor Dickinson maintains an active role in government and policy circles, having served as Special Counsel to the General Counsel of the Department of Defense (2016-17) and as a senior policy adviser at the State Department. She regularly contributes to the national security blog Just Security and has collaborated with the American Bar Association on significant reports, including a 2018 analysis of U.S. military commissions at Guantanamo Bay. Her government service complements her academic work, creating a robust feedback loop between theory and practice in national security law.

She has engaged extensively with professional organizations including serving as Co-chair of the International Law and Technology Section and as a member of the Executive Council of the American Society of International Law, demonstrating leadership in her field beyond the classroom and scholarly publications.