John Sipher spent nearly three decades with the CIA’s National Clandestine Service, serving in senior intelligence positions around the world and becoming one of the agency’s leading experts on Russia. During his 28-year CIA career, he served in multiple overseas assignments and helped lead the agency’s operations focused on Russia.
Since retiring from the CIA, John has become a respected voice on espionage, national security, Russia, intelligence, and global affairs. He is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and frequently provides analysis for major news organizations.
Drawing on a career spent navigating some of the world’s most complex national-security challenges, John offers students a rare look inside the world of intelligence—from what intelligence officers actually do to the importance of critical thinking, understanding other cultures, leadership, judgment, and decision-making under pressure.
Through his story, students can learn about careers in intelligence and public service while discovering how curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to understand the world can lead to extraordinary opportunities.
