that, i yield back. >> i thank the gentleman. today, we are joined by ambassador david hale and miss laura cooper. david hale serve business as the undersecretary of state for political affairs with the department, a position he has held since august 30, 2018. mr. hale joined the foreign service in 1984 and holds the rank of career ambassador. he previously served as ambassador to pakistan, ben non, special envoy for middle east peace and deputy special envoy and ambassador to jordan. he served as executive assistant secretary of state to secretary albright. laura cooper is the secretary of defense to russia, ukraine and eurasia at the department of defense. shays career member of the senior executive service. miss cooper principally served as principle director in the office of assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and global security affairs.