INSA Announces Counterterrorism Expert John Brennan as new Chairman - April 23, 2007

--Former National Counterterrorism Center Head Replaces DNI Mike McConnell--

April 23, 2007
Contact: Jason Kello
(703) 224-4672

ARLINGTON, VA—The Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA), the premiere professional association of public and private sector leaders of the intelligence and national security communities, today announced the new chairman of its Board of Directors, John Brennan, a former senior CIA official who helped establish the National Counterterrorism Center in 2004 and served as its first director.

Brennan, who will remain President and CEO of The Analysis Corporation, replaces Mike McConnell who served as INSA's chairman since its inception in 2005 and stepped down when he was confirmed as the nation's second Director of National Intelligence earlier this year.

"John Brennan has served at the highest levels of our nation's intelligence community," said Tim Sample, INSA's President. “His unique background — having designed and built our nation's multi-agency terrorist threat integration center — gives him an insightful understanding of the big-picture approach to intelligence beyond the traditional intelligence circles. INSA's Board believes that John's experience in reaching out to departments and agencies in the days immediately after 9/11, including at the state and local levels, best fit INSA's role of supporting the United States intelligence and national security communities."

Sample continued, "INSA will always be grateful for the foundational leadership Director McConnell provided in our earliest days. He set a precedent for finding forward-thinking solutions here at INSA and John Brennan is an excellent choice to take the helm."

"I am delighted to have the opportunity to serve as INSA's new chairman," said John Brennan. "Our nation faces serious intelligence and national security challenges in the years ahead and it is imperative that leaders of the US's public and private sectors work together to help safeguard and advance the interests of peace and security worldwide. INSA has tremendously talented, innovative, and dedicated Americans with deep experience in national security affairs among its membership, and I look forward to helping INSA make an even greater contribution to our county’s future."

John Brennan Biography
John Brennan had a distinguished 25-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency, serving in a variety of senior positions throughout the Intelligence Community. His last assignment was (interim) Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). Mr. Brennan also served as the Director of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center (TTIC) from 12 March 2003 until 6 December 2004. When the NCTC was formally launched in December 2004, all functions and responsibilities of the TTIC were transferred to the NCTC.

Mr. Brennan began his career as an intelligence officer in 1980 with the Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Operations as a Career Trainee. After joining the Directorate of Intelligence in 1981, he served with the Department of State as a political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from 1982 to 1984.

From 1984 to 1989, he served in a variety of analytic assignments in the Office of Near Eastern and South Asian Analysis in the Directorate of Intelligence. Mr. Brennan was in charge of terrorism analysis in the DCI's Counterterrorist Center between 1990 and 1992, including during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Mr. Brennan served as the CIA's daily intelligence briefer at the White House in 1994 and 1995. Mr. Brennan was the Executive Assistant to then-DDCI George Tenet from 1995 to 1996, and he served as Chief of Station in a major Middle East capital from 1996 to 1999. Mr. Brennan served as DCI Tenet's Chief of Staff from 1999 to 2001 and as Deputy Executive Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from March 2001 to March 2003.

Mr. Brennan is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations including the National Security Medal, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, the Director of Central Intelligence Director's Medal, and the Defense Intelligence Agency's Director's Award.

The Intelligence and National Security Alliance was established in 2005 as a non-profit, non-partisan professional association representing an unprecedented alliance among public and private industry leaders of the intelligence and national security communities.  Through research, symposia, thought leadership and advocacy, INSA provides solutions to issues facing the United States intelligence and national security communities.  For more information about the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, please visit www.insaonline.org.