Early Life
John Owen Brennan was born in North Bergen, New Jersey on September 22, 1955, the son of an Irish-American automobile mechanic. He has two brothers and three sisters. He and his family attended St. Joseph of the Palisades, a Roman Catholic church in West New York, where Brennan received his first holy communion.As a young man, Brennan was interested in computers and studied computer software engineering.
Brennan attended Fordham University and graduated in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He decided to pursue a career in intelligence and enrolled in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin. He earned a master’s degree in government with a concentration in Middle Eastern studies in 1980.
Career in Intelligence
Brennan began his career as an intelligence analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1980.He worked in various positions within the CIA’s Directorate of Intelligence for the next 25 years, including as head of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center and deputy director of the National Counterterrorism Center.
In 2005, Brennan was appointed deputy national security advisor for homeland security and counterterrorism by President George W. Bush. In this capacity, he worked to integrate all aspects of homeland security, defense, intelligence and law enforcement activities to prevent terrorist attacks against the United States.
CIA Director
In 2013 Brennan was appointed CIA director by President Barack Obama. During his tenure he was responsible for the security and safety of the country, as well as managing the agency’s intelligence-gathering activities. He also became a public advocate for the CIA in its efforts to protect the United States from terrorism.
As CIA director, he was tasked with overseeing the development and implementation of the U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy and increasing transparency in the agency’s operations. He also sought to increase collaboration with other agencies and countries in the fight against terrorism.
Retirement
Brennan announced his retirement from the CIA in January 2017. He is currently a senior advisor for the security consulting firm TheAnalysisCorp, which he founded in 2005.
Brennan also serves as a Senior National Security and Intelligence Analyst for NBC News and is a frequent contributor to MSNBC. He has also become an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump’s foreign policies.
Current Age
John Brennan is currently 65 years old. He is one of the longest-serving directors of the CIA in its history, having held the position for nearly four years under President Barack Obama’s administration.
In spite of his retirement, Brennan remains an influential figure in the intelligence community. He continues to voice his opinions on the important national security issues of the day, and his advice is often sought by politicians from both sides of the aisle.
Political Activism
Since his retirement, Brennan has become an active advocate on issues of public importance. He frequently speaks out against President Donald Trump’s foreign policy decisions and his rhetoric on terrorism and national security.
He has also become a vocal proponent of measures to rein in the use of drones and surveillance technology by governments around the world. He has said that drones should only be used as a “last resort,” after diplomatic efforts and other peaceful means have been exhausted.
Controversies
Brennan has been involved in a number of controversial episodes during his time at the CIA. In 2014, he was criticized for his handling of the agency’s interrogation program and for his role in the 2014 theft of classified documents from the agency.
He has also been accused of misleading Congress about the efficacy of the CIA’s interrogation program, although he has denied these claims.
Awards and Recognition
John Brennan has been recognized for his service to the United States. In 2014, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Brennan is also the recipient of the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the National Security Medal, and the CIA Seal Medal. In addition, he has received numerous awards from foreign governments, including the Order of the Rising Sun from Japan, the Order of Merit from the Republic of Italy, and the Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry from Portugal.
