General Michael Hayden

Former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

Former Director of the National Security Agency

As the 2006-2009 director of the CIA, the country’s keystone intelligence-gathering agency, Four-Star Gen. Michael Hayden (ret.) was on the frontline of geopolitical strife and the war on terrorism. Earlier, he was appointed by President Clinton to serve as the director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and chief of the Central Security Service (CSS) from 1999–2005.

From 2005–2006, General Hayden served as the principal deputy director of national intelligence, the highest-ranking military intelligence officer in the country. In this capacity, he oversaw the entire intelligence community, including the CIA, NSA, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and the National Reconnaissance Office.

He is currently a principal at the Chertoff Group, a security consultancy co-founded by the former Homeland Security Secretary, and a distinguished visiting professor at the George Mason University School of Public Policy.

To our good fortune, Gen. Hayden is also a prized speaker on the lecture circuit who addresses the dangers, risks, and potential rewards of the political, economic, and security situations facing the planet. He dissects the political situations in the hot spots in every corner of the world, analyzing the tumultuous global environment and what it all means for the American people and America’s interests. He also speaks on the challenges of managing complex organizations in times of stress as well as the potential benefits and dangers associated with the cyber domain.

In other words, Gen. Hayden always has something interesting to say. Listen intently at our Opening General Session!