The Pillar Society: John Bennett, Former Chief of the CIA's Clandestine Service

John Bennett retired from the Central Intelligence Agency in 2013 after 33 years of service. His senior assignments included:

• Director, National Clandestine Service (NCS)
• Deputy Director NCS for Community HUMINT
• Chief, Special Activities Division
• Deputy Chief Africa Division

Mr. Bennett served 18 years overseas, mostly in Africa. He served as a Chief of Station four times. He engaged in Cold War programs in Africa, managed counter-terrorism operations in East Africa and Southwest Asia and led collaboration between the NCS and Intelligence Community, Defense and Law Enforcement partners.

Among his awards are the CIA's Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, the DNI's Distinguished National Intelligence Medal and the OSS Society's Ambassador Hugh Montgomery Award.

Mr. Bennett will discuss the Dilemma of Democracy and Covert operations: What do we Really Want? He will examine covert operations from the Cold War through the War on Terror and the recurrent efforts to assure accountability.

The presentation will be followed by Q&A.