Hal Brands (born 1983) is an American historian, strategist, and columnist specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international relations. He serves as the Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and is a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Additionally, he is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he contributes to research on global security and strategy. Brands earned his PhD, MA, and MPhil in history from Yale University. His government service includes roles as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Strategic Planning (2015–2016) and lead writer for the Commission on the National Defense Strategy. He is the author of influential works such as 'Making the Unipolar Moment: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Rise of the Post-Cold War Order' and co-editor of 'The New Makers of Modern Strategy: From the Ancient World to the Digital Age.' Brands is a frequent commentator on American statecraft and global challenges, bridging historical analysis with contemporary policy recommendations.