Gen. David Petraeus – The Cipher Brief

Gen. David Petraeus
Former Director of the CIA

General David Petraeus (US Army, Ret) served over 37 years in the U.S. military, culminating his career with six consecutive commands, five of which were combat, including command of the Multi-National Force-Iraq during the Surge, U.S. Central Command, and Coalition and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan. He subsequently served as Director of the CIA. He is now a partner in a global investment firm (and chairs the firm’s global institute), a member of a number of private and public boards, engaged in several academic appointments, a private venture capitalist, and a regular contributor to discussions on global security and economic issues. He graduated with distinction from the U.S. Military Academy in 1974 and later earned a Ph.D. in international relations and economics from Princeton University.

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Afghanistan's Deadly Path to Peace

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U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad is just beginning a multi-nation tour that will include peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar. This comes as Taliban...

Four Big Takeaways from the Munich Security Conference

February 20, 2019February 20, 2019

The Cipher Brief asked expert and retired four-star General David Petraeus (Ret.) for his big takeaways after attending last weekend’s Munich Security Conference. This is Cipher Brief Level I...

The Long War Against Extremism in Afghanistan

August 20, 2018August 19, 2018

This is Cipher Brief Level I Member Only content. It can be accessed via login or by signing up to become a Cipher Brief Member. Joining this high-level, security-focused community is only...

The Tasks & Opportunities Facing Gina Haspel

May 23, 2018May 22, 2018

Gina Haspel assumes the position of D/CIA admirably prepared in all possible respects — in general, of course, given 33 years with the agency, and specifically, having served as DD/CIA and...

2020 Cipher Brief Annual Threat Conference

Network Spotlight

John Sipher

John Sipher retired in 2014 after a 28-year career in the CIA's National Clandestine Service, which included serving in Moscow and running the CIA’s Russia operations. Sipher served multiple overseas tours, as Chief of Station and Deputy Chief of Station, in Europe, the Balkans, Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia. He also ran Russian operations at headquarters. He retired as ...