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The Cipher Brief's National Security Network

Our expanding network of national security experts and contributors includes top thinkers from the intelligence, military, academic and business sectors. Their collective contributions to the security conversation will lead to tomorrow’s solutions.

General Michael Hayden

General Michael Hayden

Former Director, CIA and NSA

Gen. Jack Keane (Ret.)

Gen. Jack Keane (Ret.)

Former Vice Chief of Staff, United States Army

General David Petraeus (Ret.)

General David Petraeus (Ret.)

Former Director of the CIA

Michael Vickers

Michael Vickers

Former Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence

Admiral James Stavridis (Ret.)

Admiral James Stavridis (Ret.)

Former Supreme Allied Commander, NATO

Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper (Ret.)

Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper (Ret.)

Former U.S. Director of National Intelligence

General Frank McKenzie (Ret.)

General Frank McKenzie (Ret.)

Former Commander, United States Central Command

Michael Chertoff

Michael Chertoff

Former United States Secretary of Homeland Security

General Philip M. Breedlove

General Philip M. Breedlove

Former Supreme Allied Commander, NATO

Sir John Sawers

Sir John Sawers

Former Chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6)

General Keith Alexander

General Keith Alexander

Former Director, National Security Agency

General John R. Allen

General John R. Allen

Former Commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan

Patrick Calvar

Patrick Calvar

Former Director General of the French Security Service, the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI)

Nick Warner

Nick Warner

Former Director-General of the Office of National Intelligence (ONI) Australia

General Stanley McChrystal

General Stanley McChrystal

Former Commander, ISAF

Toomas Hendrik Ilves

Toomas Hendrik Ilves

Former President of Estonia

John McLaughlin

John McLaughlin

Former Acting Director, Central Intelligence Agency

General Charles “Chuck” Wald, USAF (Ret.)

General Charles “Chuck” Wald, USAF (Ret.)

Former Deputy Commander of United States European Command (EUCOM)

Tom Bossert

Tom Bossert

Former Homeland Security Advisor to the President

Tom Ridge

Tom Ridge

Former Secretary of Homeland Security

Kenneth Wainstein

Kenneth Wainstein

FORMER Cipher Brief Expert currently serving as Undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis at DHS

Richard Fadden

Richard Fadden

Former National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada

Charlie Allen

Charlie Allen

Former Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Admiral Eric T. Olson

Admiral Eric T. Olson

Former Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command

James N. Miller

James N. Miller

Former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

Robert Work

Robert Work

Former Deputy Secretary of Defense

Robert Cardillo

Robert Cardillo

Former Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Martin Petersen

Martin Petersen

Former Acting Executive Director, CIA

Michele Flournoy

Michele Flournoy

Former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

Admiral James 'Sandy' Winnefeld (Ret.)

Admiral James 'Sandy' Winnefeld (Ret.)

Former Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

Saxby Chambliss

Saxby Chambliss

Former U.S. Senator (R-GA)

Jane Harman

Jane Harman

President and CEO, Wilson Center

Sir David Omand GCB

Sir David Omand GCB

Former Director of GCHQ (the UK Sigint Agency)

Robert Hannigan

Robert Hannigan

Former Director, GCHQ

Conrad Prince

Conrad Prince

Former Director General for Operations and Deputy Director of GCHQ

Alan Kohler

Alan Kohler

Former Assistant Director of the Counterintelligence Division, FBI

Christopher Costa

Christopher Costa

Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism on the National Security Council (NSC)

George Barnes

George Barnes

Former NSA Deputy Director

Chris Inglis

Chris Inglis

Former U.S. National Cyber Director

Liesl Jordan

Liesl Jordan

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Alex Creswell

Alex Creswell

Former Member British Foreign Service

Deborah Lee James

Deborah Lee James

Former Secretary of the United States Air Force

Jennifer Ewbank

Jennifer Ewbank

Former Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency for Digital Innovation

Bill Evanina, Former Director, National Counterintelligence and
        Security Center

Bill Evanina, Former Director, National Counterintelligence and Security Center

Director, National Counterintelligence and Security Center

John Carlin

John Carlin

Former Acting Deputy Attorney General

Michael Leiter

Michael Leiter

Former Director, National Counterterrorism Center

Peter Leahy

Peter Leahy

Former Chief of the Australian Army

Nicholas J. Rasmussen

Nicholas J. Rasmussen

Former Director, National Counterterrorism Center

Ellen McCarthy

Ellen McCarthy

Former Asst. Secretary of State, Bureau of Intelligence and Research

Tim Willasey-Wilsey, Former Senior Member, British Foreign Office

Tim Willasey-Wilsey, Former Senior Member, British Foreign Office

Former Senior Member of the British Foreign Office

Benjamin Powell

Benjamin Powell

Co-Chair, Cybersecurity, Privacy and Communications Practice, Wilmer Hale

Lieutenant General Kevin McLaughlin

Lieutenant General Kevin McLaughlin

Former Deputy Director, U.S. Cyber Command

Glenn Gerstell

Glenn Gerstell

Former General Counsel National Security Agency

Katharina McFarland

Katharina McFarland

Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition

Mary Beth Long

Mary Beth Long

Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs

Neil Wiley

Neil Wiley

Former Principal Executive, ODNI

John Edwards

John Edwards

Former Deputy Chief Operating Officer, CIA

Dave Pitts

Dave Pitts

Former CIA Senior Executive

Gilman Louie

Gilman Louie

CEO & Chairman, LookingGlass Cyber Solutions

Rear Adm. (Ret.) Mark Montgomery

Rear Adm. (Ret.) Mark Montgomery

Senior Director at the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI) at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Raj De

Raj De

Former General Counsel, National Security Agency

Stewart Baker

Stewart Baker

Former General Counsel of the National Security Agency

Matt Hayden, Former Assistant Secretary for Cyber, Infrastructure, Risk
        and Resilience, Department of Homeland Security

Matt Hayden, Former Assistant Secretary for Cyber, Infrastructure, Risk and Resilience, Department of Homeland Security

Former Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Cyber, Infrastructure, Risk and Resilience Policy

Samantha F. Ravich

Samantha F. Ravich

Chair of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI) at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Admiral Jonathan Greenert

Admiral Jonathan Greenert

Former Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy

Charlie Cleveland

Charlie Cleveland

Former Director of Operations and Military Deputy Director, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency

Francis X. Taylor

Francis X. Taylor

Former Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, DHS

Ambassador Andy Weber, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for
        Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs

Ambassador Andy Weber, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs

Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs

Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges (Ret.)

Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges (Ret.)

Former Commanding General of US Army Europe

Ambassador Kurt Volker

Ambassador Kurt Volker

Former United States Ambassador to NATO

Vice Adm. Kevin Donegan

Vice Adm. Kevin Donegan

Former Commander of US 5th Fleet, the 32 Nation Combined Maritime Forces, and Director of OPS at CENTCOM

Vice Admiral Mike LeFever

Vice Admiral Mike LeFever

Former Director of Strategic Operational Planning, National Counterterrorism Center.

Doug Wise

Doug Wise

Former Deputy Director, Defense Intelligence Agency

David R. Shedd

David R. Shedd

Former Acting Director, Defense Intelligence Agency

Nick Thompson

Nick Thompson

Former CIA Paramilitary Officer and Naval Special Warfare Operator

Ambassador Joseph DeTrani

Ambassador Joseph DeTrani

Former Director of the National Counterproliferation Center

Jonathan M. Winer

Jonathan M. Winer

Former US Special Envoy to Libya

Scott Howell

Scott Howell

Former Commander, Joint Special Operations Command

Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula (Ret.)

Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula (Ret.)

Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Ambassador Richard Boucher, Former Assistant Secretary of State for
        South and Central Asia

Ambassador Richard Boucher, Former Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia

Former Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia

Marcel Lettre

Marcel Lettre

Former Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence

Rolf Mowatt-Larssen

Rolf Mowatt-Larssen

Former Director of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, U.S. Department of Energy

Douglas E. Lute

Douglas E. Lute

United States Ambassador to NATO

Darrell Blocker

Darrell Blocker

Former Senior CIA Executive

Michael Daniel, President & CEO, Cyber Threat Alliance

Michael Daniel, President & CEO, Cyber Threat Alliance

President & CEO, Cyber Threat Alliance

Deborah Jones

Deborah Jones

Ambassador of the United States of America, Retired

April Doss

April Doss

Associate General Counsel for Intelligence Law, NSA

Jim Danoy

Jim Danoy

Former Defense Intelligence Executive

Ambassador Gary Grappo

Ambassador Gary Grappo

Former U.S. Ambassador to Oman

Cynthia Saddy

Cynthia Saddy

Former Senior Executive with the Central
 Intelligence Agency

Husain Haqqani

Husain Haqqani

Former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States

Paula Doyle

Paula Doyle

Former Associate Deputy Director of Operations, CIA

Bernard Hudson

Bernard Hudson

Former Chief of Counterterrorism, CIA

Michael Sulick

Michael Sulick

Former Director, CIA National Clandestine Service

David Marlowe, Former Deputy Director CIA, Operations

David Marlowe, Former Deputy Director CIA, Operations

Former Deputy Director, CIA, for Operations

John Bennett

John Bennett

Former Director, CIA National Clandestine Service

Jack Devine

Jack Devine

Former Acting Director, CIA National Clandestine Service

RADM Mike Studeman (Ret.)

RADM Mike Studeman (Ret.)

Former Commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence

Edward Bogan

Edward Bogan

Former Senior CIA Operations Officer

Andy Dunn

Andy Dunn

Former Analyst & Agency Leader, CIA

Dave Spirk

Dave Spirk

Former first-Chief Data Officer, Department of Defense

Patrick Weninger

Patrick Weninger

Former CIA Senior Intelligence Officer

Norman T. Roule

Norman T. Roule

Former National Intelligence Manager for Iran, ODNI

Dana Dyson

Dana Dyson

Former Deputy General Counsel of CIA for Operations

Geoffrey Corn

Geoffrey Corn

George R. Killam, Jr., Chair of Criminal Law and Director of the Center for Military Law and Policy at Texas Tech University School of Law

Andrew Boyd

Andrew Boyd

Former Senior Intelligence Service Officer, Directorate of Operations, CIA

Jill Sanborn

Jill Sanborn

Former FBI Executive Assistant Director for National Security

John Nixon

John Nixon

Former Senior Leadership Analyst, CIA

Chip Usher

Chip Usher

Senior Director for Intelligence at the Special Competitiveness Studies Project

John Lauder

John Lauder

Former Deputy Director of National Support, National Reconnaissance Office

Lt. Gen. Michael Groen (US Marine Corps, Ret.)

Lt. Gen. Michael Groen (US Marine Corps, Ret.)

Former Director, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, DoD

Scott Wright

Scott Wright

Former Senior Executive, CIA

Ralph Goff

Ralph Goff

Former Senior Intelligence Executive, CIA

Carol Rollie Flynn

Carol Rollie Flynn

Former Associate Deputy Director, National Counterterrorism Center

Kevin Keaton

Kevin Keaton

Former Chief of Innovation, National Security Agency (NSA)

Rob Dannenberg

Rob Dannenberg

Former Head of Security, Goldman Sachs

Ted Singer, Former Senior Intelligence Service Officer, CIA

Ted Singer, Former Senior Intelligence Service Officer, CIA

Former CIA Senior Intelligence Service

Michael Nagata

Michael Nagata

Former Commander of US Special Operations Command-Central

Mark Davidson, Former Senior Intelligence Officer, CIA

Mark Davidson, Former Senior Intelligence Officer, CIA

Former Senior Intelligence Officer, CIA

Jon Darby, Former Director of Operations, National Security

Jon Darby, Former Director of Operations, National Security Agency/CSS

Former Director of the Operations Directorate, NSA/CSS

Linda Weissgold

Linda Weissgold

Former Deputy Director for Analysis, CIA

Gwyn Armfield

Gwyn Armfield

Brigadier General, USAF, Retired

Nick Fishwick

Nick Fishwick

Former Senior Member of the British Foreign Office

Beth Sanner

Beth Sanner

Former Deputy Director for National Intelligence, ODNI

Robert J. Eatinger, Jr.

Robert J. Eatinger, Jr.

Former Senior Deputy General Counsel, CIA

Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, US Army (Ret.)

Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, US Army (Ret.)

Former Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs

Karen Schaefer

Karen Schaefer

Former Chief of Operations, Directorate of Science and Technology, CIA

Levi West

Levi West

Dr. Levi West is the Director of Terrorism Studies at the Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security at Charles Sturt University.

Gary Corn

Gary Corn

Director of the Technology, Law & Security Program- American University

Col. (Ret) Candice Frost

Col. (Ret) Candice Frost

Former Commander, Joint Intelligence Operations Center, U.S. Cyber Command

Mark Kelton

Mark Kelton

Former Senior Executive Service Officer, CIA

Glenn Corn

Glenn Corn

Former Senior CIA Operations Officer, Member of Senior Executive Service and Adjunct Professor of Russian/Soviet Studies

Sean Corbett

Sean Corbett

Former Air Vice Marshall, UK Royal Air Force

Mark Cooter

Mark Cooter

Former Colonel, U.S. Air Force

Alec Bierbauer

Alec Bierbauer

Former CIA Officer, Directorate of Operations

John Pereira

John Pereira

Former CIA Director for Support

Robert Richer

Robert Richer

Former Associate Deputy Director for Operations, CIA

James Jeffrey

James Jeffrey

Former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq and Turkey

Leslie Ireland

Leslie Ireland

Former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Intelligence and Analysis

Stephanie Douglas

Stephanie Douglas

Former Executive Assistant Director (EAD), National Security Branch, FBI

Alison P. Bouwmeester

Alison P. Bouwmeester

Former Senior Leader, Directorate of Operations, CIA

Farah Pandith

Farah Pandith

Former Special Representative to Muslim Communities, U.S. Department of State

Sean Roche

Sean Roche

Former Associate Deputy Director of CIA for Science & Technology, Digital Innovation

Carmen Medina

Carmen Medina

Former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence

Sonya Seunghye Lim

Sonya Seunghye Lim

Former Chief of Station, CIA

Stephanie Bellistri, Former Deputy Chief of Operations, CIA

Stephanie Bellistri, Former Deputy Chief of Operations, CIA

Former Senior CIA Officer, Directorate of Operations, CIA

Carmen Landa Middleton

Carmen Landa Middleton

Former Deputy Executive Director, CIA

Kate Charlet

Kate Charlet

Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy, Department of Defense

Mary Margaret Graham

Mary Margaret Graham

Former U.S. Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Collection

Kenneth Pollack

Kenneth Pollack

Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute (AEI)

Joseph W. Augustyn

Joseph W. Augustyn

Former Member, CIA's Senior Intelligence Service

Laura Thomas

Laura Thomas

Former Case Officer- CIA

John Sipher

John Sipher

Former Member, CIA's Senior Intelligence Service

IN MEMORIAM -- Brett Davis

IN MEMORIAM -- Brett Davis

Partner, New North Ventures

Paul Kolbe

Paul Kolbe

Former Director, The Intelligence Project at Harvard University’s Belfer Center

Alasdair Gordon

Alasdair Gordon

Former Senior National Security Officer, Australian Government

David Bridges

David Bridges

Senior Geopolitical and Security Advisor at Fidelity Management and Research Company

John D. Tullius

John D. Tullius

Former National Intelligence Chair at the Naval Postgraduate School

Fran Moore

Fran Moore

Former Director of Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency

Joanne Isham

Joanne Isham

Former Deputy Director National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA)

Kristin Wood

Kristin Wood

Former Chief of Innovation and Technology at the CIA Open Source Center

Steven L. Hall

Steven L. Hall

Former Member, CIA's Senior Intelligence Service

Bill Harlow

Bill Harlow

Senior Editor, Under/Cover, The Cipher Brief

Rhea Siers

Rhea Siers

Former Deputy Associate Director for Policy, National Security Agency

Marc Polymeropoulos

Marc Polymeropoulos

Former CIA Senior Intelligence Service (SIS) Officer

Bruce Hoffman

Bruce Hoffman

Professor, Georgetown University

Kevin Hulbert

Kevin Hulbert

Former CIA Chief of Station

Karyn Eliot

Karyn Eliot

Former Senior Executive CIA

Todd Rosenblum

Todd Rosenblum

Former Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security Affairs

Rob Lively

Rob Lively

Command Sergeants Major (Ret) U.S. Army Special Operations

Steven Ward

Steven Ward

Former Senior Analyst, CIA

Michael Vigil

Michael Vigil

Former Chief of International Operations, DEA

Robert Grenier

Robert Grenier

Former Director, CIA Counterterrorism Center

Daniel Markey

Daniel Markey

Senior Research Professor and Academic Director of the Global Policy Program at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

James Lewis

James Lewis

Senior Vice President and Program Director, CSIS

Daniel Hoffman

Daniel Hoffman

Former Senior CIA Officer

Alex Bolling

Alex Bolling

Former CIA Chief of Station

Emile Nakhleh

Emile Nakhleh

Former Member, CIA's Senior Intelligence Service

Michael Allen

Michael Allen

Former Majority Staff Director, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Nate Jones

Nate Jones

Former Director for Counterterrorism, National Security Council

Bradley Fernandez

Bradley Fernandez

Former Member, CIA's National Clandestine Service

Chris Fussell

Chris Fussell

Former U.S. Navy SEAL

Michael Fisher

Michael Fisher

Former Chief, U.S. Border Patrol

Kevin Buckley

Kevin Buckley

Former Member CIA's Senior Intelligence Service

Rodney Faraon

Rodney Faraon

Partner & Chief Creative Officer, Martin+Crumpton Group

Jeanine Hayden

Jeanine Hayden

Member of the Board of Governors, National Military Family Association

Mitch Silber

Mitch Silber

Former Director of Analysis, NYPD

William Green

William Green

Former CIA Directorate of Operations