Secretary Leon Panetta is one of the most experienced public servants and national security leaders in modern American history, having served the United States across more than five decades and under multiple presidential administrations.
Panetta served as the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Defense under President Barack Obama, leading the Department of Defense and overseeing the U.S. military during a consequential period in American history. Before becoming Secretary of Defense, he served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and led the agency during the operation that located and killed Osama bin Laden in 2011.
His remarkable career in public service also includes serving as White House Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and a U.S. Representative from California for 16 years. Earlier in his career, Panetta served in the U.S. Army and worked in Washington on civil rights and public policy.
After leaving government, Panetta continued his commitment to education and public service through the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, which he co-founded with his wife, Sylvia. The institute works to inspire young people to become informed citizens and pursue lives of leadership and public service.
From the halls of Congress and the White House to the CIA and Pentagon, Leon Panetta has spent his career confronting some of the most important decisions facing the United States. His experiences offer students a rare opportunity to learn about leadership, national security, public service, decision-making, and the responsibilities that come with serving others.
