John McLaughlin

Former Acting Director, Central Intelligence Agency

John E. McLaughlin is the Distinguished Practitioner in Residence at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) where he teaches a variety of courses and conducts research.

Mr. McLaughlin served as Acting Director of Central Intelligence from July to September 2004 and as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence from October 2000 to July 2004. He was a US Army Officer in the 1960s, with service in Vietnam. He comments on foreign affairs in various media, testifies in Congress, and writes frequently on intelligence and foreign affairs in a variety of publications. 

During his CIA service, Mr. McLaughlin worked on nearly every part of the world and supervised work on analysis, clandestine operations, and technology. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Security Medal, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He was inducted into the Infantry Officers Candidate School Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, GA. He is a member of the National Security Advisory Board at the Noblis Corporation and the Countering Terrorism Advisory Group at the Middle East Institute. From 2010 to 2018 he chaired the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation, which supports CIA families who have lost a parent in the line of duty.