Director James R. Clapper is rightly considered to be one of the leading security minds of the 21st century. He has served in many key roles in the U.S. intelligence community, most notably as the Director of National Intelligence, In that role, Clapper served as the nation’s top intelligence official and the principal intelligence advisor to the President from 2010 to 2017. As the Director of National Intelligence, Clapper held one of the broadest portfolios in the U.S. government, overseeing 200,000 intelligence employees internationally, a $52 billion budget, and the intelligence units of high-profile organizations like the CIA, NSA, and FBI. He was unanimously confirmed by the Senate.
While many of his accomplishments remain classified, Clapper was in the Situation Room during the 2011 raid on Osama bin Laden. He also played a pivotal role in uncovering the likely parties at work behind the 2016 hack of the Democratic National Committee. Among his other notable public achievements, Clapper worked to improve communication between domestic agencies, building partnerships with foreign governments, and sweeping IT upgrades. Prior to becoming the Director of National Intelligence, Clapper served in two Administrations as the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. He was the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary on intelligence, counterintelligence, and security matters for the Department. In this capacity, he also acted as the Director of Defense Intelligence for the DNI.
James Clapper on flying mission during the Vietnam War, June 1971
Clapper in 1995, a lieutenant general in the U.S. Air Force and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Clapper retired in 1995 after a distinguished career in the U.S. Armed Forces. His career began in 1961 when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and culminated as a lieutenant general in the U.S. Air Force and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Clapper’s intelligence-related positions over his 32 years in uniform include Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and Director of Intelligence for three combatant commands: U.S. Forces, Korea, Pacific Command, and Strategic Air Command. He served two combat tours during the Southeast Asia conflict, and flew 73 combat support missions in EC-47’s over Laos and Cambodia.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter presents Clapper with the Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, 2016.
His awards include three National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medals, two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Coast Guard’s Distinguished Public Service Award, three Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Awards, the Presidentially-conferred National Security Medal, and many other U.S. civilian and military, as well as foreign government, awards and decorations. In recognition of his storied career, he was awarded the FBI Director’s Medallion and the title of honorary Special Agent by FBI Director, James Comey.
He is currently a national security analyst for CNN and author of the New York Times best-selling book, Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence.
Clapper earned a bachelor’s degree in government and politics from the University of Maryland, a master’s degree in political science from St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas, and an honorary doctorate in strategic intelligence from the then-Joint Military Intelligence College. He is married to the former Susan Terry, and they have two grown children and four grandchildren.
The Common Good hosted Clapper with moderatorJohn BermaninFacts and Fears: Hard Truths and Intelligence: James Clapper - November 7, 2018. He currently serves as a member ofThe Common Good Honorary Advisory Board.
Selected Media:
Clapper with TCG CEO Patricia Duff, and John Berman in 2018
‘I’d Never Been Involved in Anything as Secret as This’ Politico, featuring Clapper on the effort to locate Osama bin Laden. 2021
Former US intelligence director backs Turnbull and Rudd’s call for Murdoch media inquiry The Guardian, 2021
Former Intelligence Chiefs: Trump’s Removal of Experts is Deeply Destructive to our Nation’s Safety The Washington Post, 2020
The Worries Over US Intelligence Harvard Gazette 2018 interview with Clapper
We've Worked on Stopping Terrorism. Trump's Travel Ban Fuels It Clapper op-ed for CNN, 2018
Clapper on Office Hours Podcast, 2018
Clapper on CNN: This cyber attack is hugely damaging and disturbing
Clapper on CNN: 'Stinging rebuke': Clapper reacts to Biden's sanctions on Russia
Book:
Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence, 2018
