President Obama Names Stephen W. Preston as Intended Nominee for General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency
Preston joined WilmerHale in 1986, and later returned in 2001 after serving at both the Pentagon and the Justice Department. He is currently a co-chair of the Defense and National Security Practice Group, and a member of the Regulatory and Government Affairs and Litigation/Controversy Departments.
As a series of nominations were announced, President Obama stated: “Our nation will be well-served by these fine individuals, who all bring dedication to our country and impressive expertise in their fields. I am confident that they will be effective advocates on behalf of the American people as we work to strengthen the economy, keep Americans safe at home and abroad, and make America work for our families. I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years.”
Preston was the Principal Deputy General Counsel of the Department of Defense from 1993 to 1995, during which time he served for an extended period as Acting General Counsel. From 1998 to 2000, he was General Counsel of the Department of the Navy, a Presidential appointment requiring Senate confirmation. Mr. Preston’s responsibilities covered the full range of legal matters confronting the Defense Department and the national security establishment.
From 1995 to 1998, Preston served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the US Department of Justice, responsible for civil litigation in the courts of appeals on behalf of the United States.
Preston received a BA from Yale University and a JD from Harvard University.