1980-2005
John Brennan worked as a CIA employee from 1980 to 2005 in different parts of the agency.
“from 1980 to 2005, I was a CIA employee serving in different parts of the agency”
Topic
John Brennan
16 facts from 2 episodes, in date order. These are what speakers said on the shows, each linked to the moment it was said. They aren't independently verified.
1980
When John Brennan joined the CIA in 1980, the agency had no personal computers and relied on hard-copy documents.
“When I started out in the agency in 1980, we didn't have personal computers, everything was, you know, hard copy it.”
1990s
John Brennan was President Bill Clinton's daily intelligence briefer in the mid-1990s.
“I also had the great honor and privilege to be, uh, President Clinton's daily intelligence briefer in the mid 1990s.”
1996-1999
John Brennan served as the U.S. government's chief intelligence officer in Saudi Arabia from 1996 to 1999.
“served as the chief intelligence officer, uh, for the U. S. government in Saudi Arabia from 96 to 99”
1996
Jack Bogle officially stepped down as Vanguard CEO on January 31, 1996, and John Brennan took over.
“On January 31st, 1996, Jack officially steps down as CEO and Brennan takes over”
2003
In 2003, President George W. Bush and CIA Director George Tenet asked John Brennan to stand up the National Counterterrorism Center.
“in 2003, I was asked by, uh, President George W. Bush and the director of of Central Intelligence, George Tenet, to stand up, uh, what is called the National Counterterrorism Center.”
2009-2017
John Brennan served eight years in the Obama administration, first as homeland security advisor and deputy national security advisor for homeland security and counterterrorism.
“I served eight years, uh, in the Obama administration, uh, 1st as, uh, his homeland security advisor and deputy national security advisor for homeland security and counterterrorism.”
2013-2014
Brennan spent his first year as CIA director assessing the agency and concluded change was needed because its structure had stayed largely the same for 50 to 60 years.
“for the 1st year, I basically assessed and my impressions, uh, reinforced my view that change was needed because the agency structure basically had stayed the same over the last 50, 60 years.”
2013
A British counterpart advised Brennan when he became CIA director not to delay senior personnel decisions.
“He said, John, if if there are senior personnel decisions that you feel need to be made, don't delay it because, um, you pay a price.”
2017
John Brennan retired from government for the second and final time on January 20, 2017.
“retired, uh, for the 2nd and final time on January 20th of 2017”
Undated
As deputy executive director, John Brennan helped spearhead a pay-for-performance system for CIA employees.
“I was heavily involved in spearheading a change in how agency employees are compensated. It's called the pay for performance system.”
Undated
Brennan assembled a group of respected officers from across the CIA and took them off their regular jobs to assess the agency's structure.
“I decided to pull together a group of people who I respected from different parts of the agency and took them off their full-time positions.”
Undated
The CIA task force presented three reorganization proposals, low, medium and high, and Brennan chose the high option.
“The task force came up with 3 proposals, a low, a medium and a high.”
Undated
Under Brennan, the CIA created a new Directorate of Digital Innovation for the first time.
“but we created a new directorate of digital innovation. It was one of the things that I recognized that this digital domain i is so profoundly impactful on all our lives.”
Undated
Brennan removed his close friend, the head of the directorate of operations, from his post because he opposed the transformation.
“I was going to be relieving him of that command position”
Undated
Brennan said much of the criticism of his reorganization came from retired CIA officers outside the agency.
“a lot of the criticism came from the retiree community, the ones who were outside”
Episodes