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Michael Leiter    

Former NCTC Director, EVP at Leidos, NBC News Analyst

Michael E. Leiter served as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) until July 2011. He was sworn in as NCTC's second-ever director on June 12, 2008, upon his confirmation by the U.S. Senate and after serving as the acting director since November 2007. He was initially nominated to serve as director by President George W. Bush in March 2008, and continued under President Barack Obama in December 2009, serving in two administrations. As the director of NCTC, Leiter led the primary organization in the U.S. government for analysis and integration of all terrorism intelligence—both domestically and overseas. He played a key role in the U.S. Government's response to several high-stakes events, including an attempted terrorist attack on a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day 2009, the Fort Hood shooting, and a failed car bomb attack in Times Square. He was in the Situation Room during the mission that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden.

In his capacity as NCTC's Director, Leiter led more than 1,000 personnel and managed an annual budget of more than $400 million. Additionally, he advised the Office of Management and Budget on the allocation of over $100 billion annually for government-wide counterterrorism activities. From February 2007 to November 2007, Leiter served as NCTC’s Principal Deputy Director. Before joining NCTC, he served in various roles, including as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the deputy general counsel for the President’s Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction (the Robb-Silberman Commission). His contributions focused on intelligence community reforms, particularly the development of the National Security Branch of the FBI and the National Security Division of the Department of Justice.

Following his tenure at NCTC, Leiter continued his commitment to national security in the private sector. He served as the Head of Global Government & Commercial Cyber Operations at Palantir Technologies and is currently the Executive Vice President for Business Development and Strategy at Leidos Holdings. His expertise in national security extends to his media presence as a Counterterrorism and Cyber Analyst for NBC News, offering insights into leadership in crisis and the evolving challenges of global terrorism and cybersecurity. From 1991 until 1997, Leiter served as a Naval Flight Officer in the U.S. Navy, participating in operations in the former Yugoslavia and Iraq, which further informs his perspective on military and security matters.

Leiter received his J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude and served as president of the Harvard Law Review, and his B.A. from Columbia University. He is a recipient of numerous awards, including the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the Secretary of Defense Outstanding Public Service Medal, the CIA Seal Medal, and the Air Medal with three Strike/Flight awards. His extensive experience and leadership during critical national security events make him a respected voice in the fields of counterterrorism and cybersecurity.

Speech Topics

The Changing Face of Global Terrorism and Our Response

Having served as the nations chief counterterrorism analyst, strategist, and coordinator for two Presidents, Leiter describes all aspects of the terrorist threat the U.S. and global businesses face worldwide. Ranging from personal reflections on being in the Situation Room during the mission that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden to advising Presidents Obama and Bush on how to confront al-Qaidas ideology, Leiter offers deep insight into how the global threat of terror has evolved, where it poses the greatest threats, and what strategiesboth government and private sectorare best suited for reducing vulnerabilities. Leiter provides carefully tailored discussions related to terrorists use of attacks like those seen in Mumbai, India in 2008, the risks of terrorists use of weapons of mass destruction, how to combat homegrown terrorism, and cyber terror and ways to defend against it. In addition, Leiter uses his years of advising the Office of Management and Budget and the Congress on U.S. Government-wide counterterrorism programs to describe areas of opportunity for private industry to contribute to making U.S. and international counterterrorism efforts more effective.

Are We Keeping Up in a Rapidly Changing World?

Reflecting on more than two decades in public service and having been deeply involved in the U.S. Governments national security and intelligence transformation of the past decade, Leiter discusses the ways in which the U.S. Government and the U.S. private sector isand is notkeeping up with enormous global changes. In particular, Leiter talks about how the rapidly changing dynamics across the Middle East and North Africa, the increasingly dangerous aspects of cyberspace, and the worrisome availability of weapons of mass destruction are often outpacing our ability to address critical national security needs. In addition, Leiter describes how the private sector can help partner with the U.S. Government and foreign nations to address many of these challenges, as well as the ways in which many of our traditional policy, legal, and process solutions are falling short.

Leading in a Crisis: Before, During, and After

For more than four years Leiter served at the heart of terrorism crisis management in the U.S. Government as the Director of the National Counterterrorism Centerthe post-9/11 organization created to serve as the hub of intelligence and policy planning for the U.S. counterterrorism community. Over the course of two administrations, Leiter helped lead the U.S. Governments efforts to respond to repeated crises and high-stakes events, such as al-Qaidas failed attempt to bring a U.S. airliner down over Detroit on Christmas Day 2009, a failed car bomb attack in Times Square, the tragic shooting at Ft. Hood, and the successful mission that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden. Through examples from these and other events, Leiter shows how principled, thoughtful, visionary, and energetic leadership can carry an organization through crises andmore importantlycan lead to improvements in mission effectiveness that might otherwise be impossible. Leiters lessons of motivating and focusing a workforce, working with critical partners and customers, and effecting change apply to a wide range of businesses and organizations well-beyond those involved in combating terrorism or involved in the national security enterprise.

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