Viet Dinh

Dinh served as U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Legal Policy from 2001 to 2003. As the official responsible for developing federal legal policy, Dinh contributed to number of diverse policy initiatives to reduce demand for illicit drugs, eliminate racial profiling in federal law enforcement, protect children from exploitation, combat human trafficking, develop DNA technology, reduce gun violence, and reform civil and criminal justice procedures. After 9/11, Dinh conducted a comprehensive review and revision of Department of Justice priorities, policies and practices to ensure that all available resources are dedicated to protecting America against terrorist acts. He played a key role in developing the USA Patriot Act and revising the Attorney General's Guidelines, which govern federal law enforcement activities and national security investigations.

The Los Angeles Times wrote, "On topics as far-ranging as gun control, cyber pornography, human trafficking and the selection of new federal judges, Dinh has played an increasingly critical role in shaping federal law enforcement policy. But nowhere has his impact been felt more keenly than in the Bush administration's highest priority: its aggressive war on terrorism."

Dinh graduated magna cum laude from both Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He was a law clerk to Judge Laurence H. Silberman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. He served as Associate Special Counsel to the U.S. Senate Whitewater Committee, as Special Counsel to Senator Pete V. Domenici for the Impeachment Trial of the President.

Born in 1968 in Saigon, Vietnam, Dinh came to America as a refugee in 1978.