Reshaping Government: Possibilities and Perils
The Attack on Good Governance and our National Interests
Jeffrey Kovar, Former Assistant Legal Advisor, U.S. Department of State
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Teplitz Memorial Courtroom
University of Pittsburgh School of Law | 3900 Forbes Avenue | Pittsburgh, PA 15260
* In person attendance is encouraged, but a virtual option is available to select when registering.
Jeffrey Kovar is retiring after 40 years of distinguished service with the federal government. Most recently he was the Assistant Legal Adviser for Political-Military Affairs at the United States Department of State. In that role, he directed an office advising on matters involving international humanitarian law, the use of force, counter-terrorism, cyber operations, military cooperation and basing agreements, sensitive intelligence operations, and weapons sales and transfers under the Arms Export Control Act and the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations. During his career, Mr. Kovar has also specialized in a variety of other private and public international law areas, including human rights and refugees, environmental protection, outer space, Antarctica, investment claims and disputes, judicial cooperation, family law, and commercial law.
In October of 2024, Mr. Kovar spoke at a program co-sponsored by Pitt’s Center for International Legal Education and Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy. His topic at that time was “NATO at 75 and the Importance of Alliances in U.S. Foreign Policy: A Lawyer’s View.” Much has changed, both in the world and at the State Department, since then. One year later, Mr. Kovar has returned to share his perspectives on those changes. As was true, then, the views he expresses will be his own and not necessarily those of the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Government.
This program has been approved by the Pennsylvania CLE board for 1 hour of substantive credit. There is a fee of $30 for those seeking CLE credits. The program is free to Pitt Law faculty, staff, students and those not seeking CLE credit. Please use this link to register for CLE credit.
This program will be lead by Mark Nordenberg and Ronald Brand who will provide remarks and moderate the session.
Mark Nordenberg, Chancellor Emeritus, Chair of the Institute of Politics, Director of the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy
Ronald Brand, Founding Director of the Center for International Legal Education, Chancellor Mark Nordenberg University Professor
Sponsored by:
The Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy at the Institute of Politics
The Center for International Legal Education
Co-Sponsored by:
Pitt Cyber, Pitt Law, David C. Frederick Honors College
The Dick Thornburgh Forum is grateful to the Richard King Mellon Foundation for its generous support of the Forum's Governance Programs.
