Toggle navigation menu.

Patrick Hanish

Patrick Hanish is a member of the Senior Foreign Service with more than 25 years of experience, currently serving as State Department Senior Advisor to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Patrick most recently served as Director of the Office of Iranian Affairs in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, and as Chief of Staff to the Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues.

Patrick’s most recent overseas assignment was as Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at U.S. Embassy – Cairo.  He also served in overseas leadership positions as Counselor for Political-Military Affairs at U.S. Embassy – Baghdad, Chief of the Political-Economic Affairs Section at U.S. Consulate General – Istanbul, and Political Chief and Deputy Principal Officer at Consulate General – Erbil.

His other previous tours include: Executive Director/Assistant Chief of Protocol, Office of the Chief of Protocol of the United States; Senior Assignments Officer for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs; Political Officer at U.S. Embassy – Sarajevo; Special Assistant to the Secretary’s Special Envoy for Kosovo Final Status Talks; Desk Officer for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; Watch Officer in the Department of State’s Operations Center; Political Officer at Consulate General – Istanbul; and Economic/Consular Officer at Embassy – Riyadh. He has served extend temporary-duty assignments to Sana’a, Yemen and Adana, Turkey. Prior to joining the State Department, he worked for the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) in Moscow, Russia.

Patrick holds a master’s degree in strategic studies from the National War College; a master’s degree in national security studies from Georgetown University, and a bachelor’s degree in international politics from Georgetown University. Patrick speaks Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Turkish and Kurdish.

Category
Country
Issue
Date
Filter Topics Open Close
In the News

Bipartisan House members push Biden to allow Poland ...

Oct 30, 2024

In the News

US Weighs NATO Ally’s Offer To Shoot Down Russ...

Nov 01, 2024

screen-reader-text
In the News

Bipartisan report urges rethink of America’s Russia ...

Sep 28, 2024

screen-reader-text
In the News

Wilson Talks Russia Strategy

Oct 02, 2024

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

Chairman Wilson Issues Statement on Government Raids...

Oct 25, 2024

WASHINGTON—Today, US Helsinki Commission Chairman Joe Wilson (SC-02), issued the following statement regarding the government raids on the homes of the two Tbilisi, Georgia-based researchers with the US-based Atlantic Council: “It […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

Ranking Member Representative Cohen Marks 5th Annive...

Aug 07, 2025

WASHINGTON—U.S. Helsinki Commission Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09), OSCE PA Special Representative on Political Prisoners, today issued a statement marking the fifth anniversary of Alexander Lukashenka’s falsification of elections […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

Bipartisan Helsinki Commission Leadership Mark 50th ...

Aug 01, 2025

WASHINGTON—U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Roger Wicker (MS), Co-Chairman Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02), Ranking Member Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), and Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09) today issued a statement marking […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

BRIEFING—Intercepting Terror: Strengthening Ukrainia...

Jul 24, 2025

Cannon House Office Building 210 Stream live here Over the past several months, Russia has scaled up its production of drones and missiles, using its growing arsenal to launch nightly […]

screen-reader-text
Briefings

Intercepting Terror: Strengthening Ukrainian Air Def...

Jul 24, 2025

Over the past several months, Russia has scaled up its production of drones and missiles, using its growing arsenal to launch nightly barrages on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure. In […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

BRIEFING—From Persecution to Protection: Strategies ...

Jul 16, 2025

Longworth House Office Building 1324 Stream live here Religious persecution is not limited to totalitarian states. Illiberal democracies often infringe on religious freedom in more subtle ways. While dictators see unsanctioned […]

screen-reader-text
Briefings

From Persecution to Protection: Strategies to Defend...

Jul 16, 2025

Religious persecution is not limited to totalitarian states. Illiberal democracies often infringe on religious freedom in more subtle ways. While dictators see unsanctioned religious thought and practice as a challenge […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

HEARING—The Cost of a Bad Deal in Ukraine

Jun 26, 2025

Russell Senate Office Building 222 Stream live here  Ukraine is fighting not only for its own survival, but for freedom and security around the world. Western leaders seeking to end Vladimir […]

screen-reader-text
Hearings

The Cost of a Bad Deal in Ukraine

Jun 26, 2025

Ukraine is fighting not only for its own survival, but for freedom and security around the world. Western leaders seeking to end Vladimir Putin’s genocidal war should note that any […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

BRIEFING—A Historic Opportunity: Advancing the Armen...

Jun 25, 2025

Rayburn House Office Building 2212 Stream live here   After decades of war, Armenia and Azerbaijan are on the verge of a peace deal that promises to bring stability and prosperity […]

screen-reader-text
Briefings

A Historic Opportunity: Advancing the Armenia-Azerba...

Jun 25, 2025

After decades of war, Armenia and Azerbaijan are on the verge of a peace deal that promises to bring stability and prosperity while lessening Russia and Iran’s grip on the […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

Ranking Member Rep. Cohen Welcomes Release of 14 Bel...

Jun 24, 2025

WASHINGTON—U.S. Helsinki Commission Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09), OSCE PA Special Representative on Political Prisoners, today issued a statement following the release of fourteen political prisoners in Belarus. “I […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

Chairman Wicker, Senators Shaheen, Durbin Honor Bela...

May 28, 2025

WASHINGTON—U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Roger Wicker (MS), Commissioner Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH), and Senator Dick Durbin (IL) today issued a statement on the fifth anniversary of the arrest of […]

screen-reader-text