Afghanistan: Special Operations & What Comes Next
October 13, 2021 at 1:30pm ET
Join us for an Expert Briefing on
Afghanistan: Special Operations & What Comes Next
with:
The Hon. Susan M. Gordon
Former PDDNI
and
Major General Buck Elton, USAF (Ret.)
Special Operations Forces Strategic Advisor, Avantus Federal
Join us as we welcome former PDDNI The Hon. Susan M. Gordon and Major General Buck Elton, USAF (Ret.) Wednesday, October 13th at 1:30pm ET.
About the Speakers:
Hon. Susan M. Gordon
Former PDDNI
Susan M. Gordon is the former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, serving from 2017-2019, where she advised the President on intelligence matters and provided operational leadership of the 17 agencies and organizations of the Intelligence Community (IC). She is a widely respected authority on risk management, technical innovation, and cyber and space issues. Today, she is an active board member, university fellow, and advises private companies in the areas of technology, strategy, and leadership.
Throughout Ms. Gordon’s more than three decades in the IC, she led large scale organizational change and delivered revolutionary outcomes. Ms. Gordon worked to adapt the IC to emerging economic, military, and political trends impacting the current operating environment. Ms. Gordon led the establishment of In-Q-Tel, the Central Intelligence Agency’s venture arm, in the 1990s. In the last several years, she focused on advancing intelligence integration across the IC, expanding outreach and partnerships to the private sector and international allies, and driving innovation across the Community.
Major General Buck Elton, USAF (Ret.)
Special Operations Forces Strategic Advisor, Avantus Federal
Buck Elton is the Special Operations Forces Strategic Advisor at Avantus Federal. As a recently retired United States Air Force Major General, Buck brings over 31 years of experience with the Department of Defense, United States Government Agencies and International Partners. He will join our efforts to grow our partnership with United States Special Operations Command, Joint Special Operations Command and the United States Air Force. Previously, Buck served as the Director of Operations at United States Special Operations Command, as the Commander of Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan, the Deputy Director of Special Operations and Counterterrorism on the Joint Staff, and the Deputy Commanding General of Joint Special Operations Command. He is a Command Pilot with 4,300 flying hours in MC-130, C-130 and MQ-1 aircraft. Buck holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the United States Air Force Academy and a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle University.
Ret. Air Force Major General Albert “Buck” Elton has joined Avantus Federal, a NewSpring Holdings company, in a consultancy role supporting Avantus’ growing presence the Defense and Intelligence Communities. Elton brings extensive senior leader experience in the United States Special Operations Command and a wealth of knowledge following a distinguished career highlighted as the Commanding General of U.S. and NATO Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan, as well as the Deputy Commanding General of Joint Special Operations Command. Elton has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels, and commanded joint forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and Haiti.
Major General Buck Elton retired in October 2020 after 31 years of service. He flew MC-130H, MC-130E and MQ-1s in Air Force Special Operations Command, commanded at the squadron, group, wing and task force levels and was the Commanding General of the Special Operations Joint Task Force in Afghanistan. He also served as the Deputy Commanding General of Joint Special Operations Command, the Deputy Director for Special Operations and Counterterrorism on the Joint Staff, and the United States Special Operations Command Director of Operations. He currently works as a Strategic Consultant for Avantus Federal. Buck and his wife, Karen, live in Medford, Oregon.
Norm Roule
Former National Intelligence Manager for Iran
Norman T. Roule served for 34-years in the Central Intelligence Agency, managing numerous programs relating to Iran and the Middle East. He served as the National Intelligence Manager for Iran (NIM-I) at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence from November 2008 until September 2017. As NIM-I, he was the principal Intelligence Community (IC) official responsible for overseeing all aspects of national intelligence policy and activities related to Iran, to include IC engagement on Iran issues with senior policy makers in the National Security Council and the Department of State.
Mr. Roule’s service in the CIA’s Directorate of Operations included roles as Division Chief, Deputy Division Chief and Chief of Station. He has held multiple senior assignments in Washington as well as during his 15 years working overseas.
Mr. Roule currently serves as a Senior Adviser to the Counter Extremism Project and United Against Nuclear Iran.
