Cedric Leighton

Joint and Combined Warfighting School, National Defense University

Air War College

Air Command and Staff College

Air Force Technical Training Instructor Course

Squadron Officer School

Air Force Basic Intelligence Officer Course

Air Force Signals Intelligence Officer Course

Angelo State University

Cornell University

Military Analyst at CNN

Fort Belvoir, Virginia, United States

Provides CNN viewers worldwide with analysis of military and intelligence operations from locations as diverse as Washington, DC, New York, London and Paris.

Military Analyst

CYFORIX

Founding Partner

Cedric Leighton International Strategies, LLC is the International Division of Cedric Leighton Associates.  We assist in the development of National Security and Cybersecurity strategies for global organizations. Cedric Leighton is an internationally known National Security and Cybersecurity expert. In addition to his company's consulting services, Cedric Leighton has delivered universally praised presentations at numerous international and US conferences, to include the Marsh Insurance Company's European Aerospace Risk Management Seminar (EARMS) in London, UK (May 2015); the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority's (ADIA) Global Investment Forum in Abu Dhabi, UAE (Nov 2014); the Qatar Central Bank's Information Security Symposium in Doha, Qatar (Apr 2014); several CoBank executive level conferences at various locations in the US; four Bloomberg Conferences (as a panelist) in New York City and Washington, DC; the first Journal of Law and Cyberwarfare Conference in New York City (Nov 2014); as well as numerous SecureWorld, SC, IQPC and other conferences throughout the US.  He has appeared on numerous TV networks, to include CNN, CNN International, Fox News, Fox Business, BBC, Sky News, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, the PBS NewsHour and CCTV (China). Cedric was also featured weekly on Matt Ray's America's Morning News commenting on the latest international security developments.

Cedric Leighton International Strategies, LLC

Chairman

Cedric Leighton Associates is a strategic risk and leadership consultancy specializing in global risk assessments for companies and organizations of any size. We assist in the development of initiatives, programs, and policies and conduct leadership training by providing specialized mentoring to those in leadership positions. As a national security, cybersecurity, intelligence community and leadership expert, Cedric Leighton has appeared on PBS' News Hour, AP TV newsfeeds, CNN, C-SPAN, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, Bloomberg TV, CNBC, MSNBC, Al Jazeera America and Al Jazeera English, the BBC, CTV (Canadian TV), CCTV (Chinese Central TV), ABC (Australia), Maryland Public TV, as well as Washington DC (WTTG-TV - Fox 5, WJLA - ABC 7 and NewsChannel 8), New York City (WNYW - Fox 5), Philadelphia PA (WTXF - Fox 29), and other TV stations. On radio he has been a guest on the Voice of America as well as national (The Jim Bohannon, Lars Larson and Leslie Marshall shows, among others) and regional radio broadcasts as a contributor on national security issues. He appears monthly on NewsChannel 8's "Capital Insider" program. His writing has appeared in "The Hill", "The Huffington Post", "AOL Defense", on <a href="http://CNBC.com">CNBC.com</a>, in <a href="http://theStreet.com">theStreet.com</a>, and in "Leadership Excellence", "Business Excellence" and "MWorld" magazines. The latter is the journal of the American Management Association. He has been quoted in "The Wall Street Journal", "The Washington Post", the French daily newspaper "Le Figaro", "Korea Daily", and in "Defense Systems" magazine. Previously, he wrote the "Intel Insights" column for <a href="http://PotomacLocal.com">PotomacLocal.com</a>. He was a National Journal "National Security Insider", has served as a Cybersecurity and Foreign Affairs panelist for four Bloomberg conferences, and was a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Law and Cyber Warfare. Cedric is a member of the US Advisory Board of Glasswall Solutions, Ltd, an innovative UK- and US-based cybersecurity company.

Founder & President

Directed operations of global Cryptologic Training System (CTS).  Chaired Cryptologic Training Council.  Oversaw budget of over $150M.  Represented NSA at Department of Defense (DoD) and Director of National Intelligence training fora.  NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS:  Strengthened the CTS by invoking authorities granted to DIRNSA by Secretary of Defense; Cut through hardened positions and blazed path for new Cryptologic intelligence training initiative; and authored DIRNSA "charge" directing services to modernize Cryptologic training.

United States Air Force

Deputy Training Director, National Security Agency (NSA)

JCS lead for intelligence system interoperability, the $50B Battlespace Awareness portfolio, Joint Intelligence doctrine and publications, strategic planning, and Global Force Management.  Led four divisions, 80 personnel, spanning areas as diverse as Cyberspace, Counter-Intelligence/Human Intelligence (CI/HUMINT), information sharing, Intelligence Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR), and intelligence support to current operations and plans.  NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS: Streamlined organizational processes - vastly improved warfighter Intel support; CJCS focal point for Intel piece of 11 sensitive operations spanning globe - masterful synchronizer; Touted as "Best Air Force Senior Service Advisor ever" by Vice Director for Intelligence - achieved unprecedented 85% promotion rate to Lieutenant Colonel.

Deputy Director, Warfighter Support & Integration and Air Force Senior Service Advisor, Joint Staff

Chaired Intelligence Functional Working Group.  Co-chaired Joint Intelligence Interoperability Board.  Ensured all DoD intelligence systems were appropriately integrated into $564M Global Command and Control System-Joint (GCCS-J) program.  Oversaw JCS/J2's validation of Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) in concert with JCS/J8 and Combatant Commands (COCOMs).  NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS:  Led Intelligence Manpower Rebalancing effort - first in 10 years - obtained Deputy Secretary of Defense approval for wholesale billet realignment; Ensured intelligence systems valued at over $300M were made interoperable with DoD's Global Command and Control System; Validated over $1B in Joint Urgent Operational Needs for combat forces - oversaw fielding of innovative systems; Lauded by VCJCS for being first to integrate intelligence community requirements with combatant command requirements for CONPLAN 7500 - DoD's plan to fight Global War on Terrorism and DoD's #1 priority at the time; Ranked #1 of 80 Jt. FGO's (Joint Field Grade Officers) in JCS/J2.

Deputy Division Chief, Current Capabilities, Joint Staff

Lead for Battlespace Awareness Functional Capabilities Board (BA FCB); assessed requirements for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programs valued at over $1B for Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) using complex Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS).  NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS:  Developed capability gap assessment methodology lauded by JCS Vice Director of Resources and Assessments and adopted by entire JROC staff; Oversaw development of first portfolio management tools for BA FCB and JROC.

Division Chief, Battlespace Awareness Programs, Joint Staff

Commanded squadron of 300 multi-service instructors, course/curriculum developers, and 3000 multi-service students in crypto-linguistics, SIGINT Analysis and Reporting, ELINT and Electronic Systems Security Assessment.  NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS:  Revolutionized curriculum by integrating operational advances and wartime lessons-learned; Achieved "Excellent" ratings on AETC/IG and 2AF inspections; and Earned 17th Training Group "Squadron of the Year" honors in 2003 and 2005.

Commander, 316th Training Squadron, 17th Training Group, Goodfellow Air Force Base

Deployed in support of "Shock and Awe" phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom; created tactics, techniques, and procedures streamlining SIGINT dissemination to warfighter.  NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS:  Led coalition team responsible for providing intelligence that destroyed 95% of Iraq's SAM sites; Leveraged national systems and Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) to produce best SIGINT support CENTAF had received up to that point.

Chief, Cryptologic Service Group, CENTAF FWD, Combined Forces Air Component Commander, Prince Sultan

Developed and implemented new SIGINT dissemination capability; overturned 50 years of national agency policy; enabled Air Force warfighters to access critical intelligence data in near-real-time; earned Air Combat Command Inspector General Team Excellence Award.

Director of Operations, 70th Intelligence Wing, Fort George G. Meade

Served as Congressional and Intelligence Community liaison for Air Force Intelligence; revamped moribund program; key staffer in effort to integrate Air Intelligence Agency into Air Combat Command.

Chief, Congressional Affairs Branch, Headquarters US Air Force, the Pentagon

Served as Principal Military Assistant to Director of all Air Force intelligence programs.  Drafted position papers, speeches; planned worldwide travel for Director; "synergized" administrative functions within Directorate and ensured intelligence requirements of Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations were met.