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Panetta supported U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, which he identified as the "most effective weapon" against senior Al-Qaeda leadership.<ref>CIA Pakistan Campaign Is Working, Director Says, Mark Mazzetti and Helene Cooper, New York Times, February 26, 2009, A15</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gerstein |first=Josh |url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/us_world/Panetta_warns_against_politicization.html?extpar=polit |title=CIA Director Panetta Warns Against Politicization |publisher=NBC New York |accessdate=August 21, 2010}}</ref>
Panetta supported U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, which he identified as the "most effective weapon" against senior Al-Qaeda leadership.<ref>CIA Pakistan Campaign Is Working, Director Says, Mark Mazzetti and Helene Cooper, New York Times, February 26, 2009, A15</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gerstein |first=Josh |url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/us_world/Panetta_warns_against_politicization.html?extpar=polit |title=CIA Director Panetta Warns Against Politicization |publisher=NBC New York |accessdate=August 21, 2010}}</ref>
These attacks increased significantly under Panetta, with as many as 50 suspected Al-Qaeda militants being killed in May 2009 alone.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090516/ts_nm/us_pakistan_missile ]{{dead link|date=August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/world/asia/17pstan.html | work=The New York Times | title=25 Militants Are Killed In Attack In Pakistan | date=May 17, 2009 | accessdate=March 27, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bergen |first=Peter |url=http://www.newamerica.net/publications/articles/2009/drone_war_13672 |title=The Drone War |publisher=NewAmerica.net |date=June 3, 2009 |accessdate=August 21, 2010}}</ref>
These attacks increased significantly under Panetta, with as many as 50 suspected Al-Qaeda militants being killed in May 2009 alone.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090516/ts_nm/us_pakistan_missile ]{{dead link|date=August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/world/asia/17pstan.html | work=The New York Times | title=25 Militants Are Killed In Attack In Pakistan | date=May 17, 2009 | accessdate=March 27, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bergen |first=Peter |url=http://www.newamerica.net/publications/articles/2009/drone_war_13672 |title=The Drone War |publisher=NewAmerica.net |date=June 3, 2009 |accessdate=August 21, 2010}}</ref> Civilian deaths in Pakistan due to his drone strikes also dramtacally increased, with an estimated 369-725 people killed in 2009 alone. <ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drone_attacks_in_Pakistan</ref>


As director of the CIA, Panetta presided over the operations that led to [[Osama bin Laden]]'s [[Death of Osama bin Laden|death]] on May 1, 2011.
As director of the CIA, Panetta presided over the operations that led to [[Osama bin Laden]]'s [[Death of Osama bin Laden|death]] on May 1, 2011.

Revision as of 23:37, 13 July 2011

Leon Panetta
23rd United States Secretary of Defense
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 1, 2011[1]
PresidentBarack Obama
DeputyWilliam Lynn
Preceded byRobert Gates
19th Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
In office
February 13, 2009 – June 30, 2011
PresidentBarack Obama
DeputyStephen Kappes
Michael Morell
Preceded byMichael Hayden
Succeeded byMichael Morell (Acting)
18th White House Chief of Staff
In office
July 17, 1994 – January 20, 1997
PresidentBill Clinton
Preceded byMack McLarty
Succeeded byErskine Bowles
29th Director of the Office of Management and Budget
In office
January 21, 1993 – July 17, 1994
PresidentBill Clinton
Preceded byRichard Darman
Succeeded byAlice Rivlin
Chairperson of the House Budget Committee
In office
January 3, 1989 – January 21, 1993
Preceded byWilliam Gray
Succeeded byMartin Sabo
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 17th district
In office
January 3, 1993 – January 21, 1993
Preceded byCal Dooley
Succeeded bySam Farr
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 16th district
In office
January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1993
Preceded byBurt Talcott
Succeeded byDon Edwards
Personal details
Born (1938-06-28) June 28, 1938 (age 86)
Monterey, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic Party (1971–present)
Other political
affiliations		Republican Party (Before 1971)
Alma materSanta Clara University
ProfessionLawyer
Professor
Politician
Statesman
AwardsArmy Commendation Medal
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1964–1966
Rank First Lieutenant

Leon Edward Panetta (born June 28, 1938) is the 23rd and current United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama since 2011. Prior to taking office, he served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. An Italian-American Democratic politician, lawyer, and professor, Panetta served as President Bill Clinton's White House Chief of Staff from 1994 to 1997 and was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1977 to 1993. He is the founder and director of the Panetta Institute, served as Distinguished Scholar to Chancellor Charles B. Reed of the California State University System and professor of public policy at Santa Clara University. In January 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Panetta for the post of CIA Director;[2][3] he was confirmed by the full Senate on February 12, 2009 and assumed the office the next day. On April 28, 2011, President Obama announced the nomination of Panetta as United States Secretary of Defense when Robert Gates retired. David Petraeus is expected to take over over as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.[4] As director of the CIA, Panetta presided over the operations that led to Osama bin Laden's death.

On June 21, 2011, the United States Senate confirmed Panetta unanimously as the next United States Secretary of Defense and he assumed the office on July 1.[5]

Early life and schooling

Leon Panetta was born in Monterey, California, the son of Carmelina Maria (née Prochilo) and Carmelo Frank Panetta, Italian immigrants from Siderno in Calabria[6] who owned a restaurant in Monterey. He was raised in the Monterey area, and attended Catholic schools San Carlos Grammar School and Carmel Mission School. He continued his education at Monterey High School, a public school where he became involved in student politics, and was a JSA member.[7] As a junior he was Vice President of the Student Body, and became President of the Student Body as a senior.[8]

In 1956, he entered Santa Clara University, and in 1960 he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He also received a Juris Doctor in 1963 from the Santa Clara University School of Law, and soon after began practicing law. In 1964, he joined the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant, where he served as an officer in Army Military Intelligence.[9] There he received the Army Commendation Medal, and was discharged in 1966 as a First Lieutenant.[10]

Political career

Panetta started in politics in 1966 as a legislative assistant to Republican Senator Thomas Kuchel, the United States Senate Minority Whip from California, whom Panetta has called "a tremendous role model".[11]

In 1969 he became the assistant to Robert H. Finch, Secretary of the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare under the Nixon administration. Soon thereafter he was appointed Director of the Office for Civil Rights.[12]

Panetta chose to enforce civil rights and equal education laws.[citation needed] Secretary Robert Finch and Assistant Secretary John Veneman refused to fire Panetta, threatening to resign if forced to do so.[citation needed] A few weeks later in 1970, Panetta resigned and left Washington to work as Executive Assistant for John Lindsay, the Republican Mayor of New York City. He wrote about this experience in his 1971 book Bring Us Together: The Nixon Team and the Civil Rights Retreat.

He moved back to Monterey to practice law at Panetta, Thompson & Panetta from 1971 through to 1976.[13]

Congressional work

Panetta switched to the Democratic Party in 1971, because he thought that the Republican Party was moving away from the political center.[citation needed] In 1976, Panetta was elected to the U.S. Congress to represent California's 16th congressional district, unseating incumbent Republican Burt Talcott with 53% of the vote (the 17th district after the 1990 census), and was reelected for nine terms.[14][15][16]

During his time in Congress, his work concentrated mostly on budget issues, civil rights, education, health, and environmental issues, particularly preventing oil drilling off the California coast. He wrote the Hunger Prevention Act (Public Law 100-435) of 1988 and the Fair Employment Practices Resolution. He was a major contributor to the effort of establishing the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.[17]

His positions included:

Budget work

A member of the U.S. House Committee on the Budget from 1979 to 1985 — and its chairman from 1989 to 1993 — he played a key role in the 1990 Budget Summit.[18][19]

Though elected to a ninth term, he left the House in 1993 after President Bill Clinton selected him to be Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget. He is credited with developing the budget package that would eventually result in the balanced budget of 1998. On July 17, 1994, he was appointed White House Chief of Staff by Clinton, a position he held until January 20, 1997. He was an important negotiator of the 1996 budget, which was another important step towards balancing the budget.[20][21]

Nomination as CIA Director

President Barack Obama nominated him to the post of Director of the Central Intelligence Agency on January 5, 2009.[2]

After his selection, journalists and politicians raised concerns about his lack of intelligence experience.

Washington Post columnist David Ignatius said that Panetta did have tangential exposure to intelligence operations as Director of the OMB and as Chief of Staff for President Clinton, where he "sat in on the daily intelligence briefings as chief of staff, and he reviewed the nation's most secret intelligence-collection and covert-action programs in his previous post as director of the Office of Management and Budget."[22] Senator Dianne Feinstein, the California Democratic chairwoman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, wasn't happy with the Leon Panetta selection:

“I was not informed about the selection of Leon Panetta to be the CIA Director. I know nothing about this, other than what I’ve read. My position has consistently been that I believe the Agency is best-served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time.”[23]

Former CIA officer Ishmael Jones stated, however, that Panetta was a wise choice because of his close personal connection to the President and lack of exposure to the CIA bureaucracy.[24][25]

On February 12, 2009, Panetta was confirmed in the full Senate by voice vote.[26]

Director of the CIA

Panetta as Director of the CIA.
Wikisource has original text related to this article:

On February 19, 2009, Leon Panetta was sworn in as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency by Vice President Joe Biden before an audience of CIA employees. Panetta reportedly received a "rock star welcome" from his new subordinates.[27]

In March 2009, Panetta visited India to discuss a host of issues including common strategy on dealing with Islamic extremism and Taliban. This was his first international visit since he assumed office.[28]

Panetta supported U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, which he identified as the "most effective weapon" against senior Al-Qaeda leadership.[29][30] These attacks increased significantly under Panetta, with as many as 50 suspected Al-Qaeda militants being killed in May 2009 alone.[31][32][33] Civilian deaths in Pakistan due to his drone strikes also dramtacally increased, with an estimated 369-725 people killed in 2009 alone. [34]

As director of the CIA, Panetta presided over the operations that led to Osama bin Laden's death on May 1, 2011.

Secretary of Defense

Panetta being sworn in as Secretary of Defense.

On April 28, 2011, President Obama announced the nomination of Panetta as United States Secretary of Defense as a replacement for retiring Secretary Robert Gates. On June 21, 2011, the United States Senate confirmed Panetta in a 100-0 vote.[35] He was sworn in on July 1, 2011.

Activities outside politics

Panetta and his wife founded the Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy in December 1998, where they serve as the Institute's directors. The Institute is located at California State University, Monterey Bay. Panetta was instrumental in creating CSU Monterey Bay by converting Fort Ord, where he was chief of operations and planning of the intelligence section when he was in the army, into the university. Panetta served as Distinguished Scholar to the Chancellor of California State University[36] and as Presidential Professor at Santa Clara University. He was urged to consider running for Governor of California during the recall election in 2003, but declined in part because of the short time available to raise money.[37]

Panetta has long been an advocate for the health of the world's oceans. As a member of Congress from California’s 16th District, he wrote numerous successful acts of Congress to protect the California coast, including legislation creating the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.[36][38][39] In 2003, Panetta was named chairman and commissioner of the Pew Oceans Commission, which in 2005 combined with the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy to establish the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative. Panetta now co-chairs the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative with Admiral James D. Watkins, U.S. Navy (Ret.).[40] Panetta continues to pursue his commitment to ocean and marine life issues, serving as a resource for legislators and the media, advocating for ocean reform on behalf of the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative as well as other ocean organizations, including the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation[41] and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.[42]

In 2006 he was part of the Iraq Study Group, also known as the Baker Commission.[43][44]

In 2009 Panetta delivered the commencement speech to the graduating class at The University of Maryland at College Park.[45][46]

Responsibilities

Joint Ocean Commission Initiative

  • Commissioner and Co-Chair[47]

Pew Oceans Commission

Bread for the World

  • Board of Directors

National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

  • Member of the Board of Directors[49]

National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management

  • Board of Directors, 2004–2009

New York Stock Exchange

  • Co-chairman of the Corporate Accountability and Listing Standards Committee
  • Board of Directors since 1997

Close Up Foundation

  • Board of Directors, Member since 1999

Connetics Investor Relations

  • Board of Directors since March 2000[50]

Fleishman-Hillard[51]

  • Co-chairman of the Corporate Accountability and Listing Standards Committee
  • Co-chairman of the Corporate Credibility Advisory practice
  • Member of the International Advisory Board

Junior Statesmen Foundation Inc.

  • Trustee since 2004

Public Policy Institute of California

  • Board of Directors since 2007[52]

In June 2002, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops appointed Panetta to their National Review Board,[53] which was created to look into the Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandal. This created controversy because of Panetta's pro-choice stands on abortion and other views seen as conflicting with those of the Church.

Personal life

Panetta married Sylvia Marie Varni,[54] who administered his home district offices during his terms in Congress.[55][56]

Currently, he lives on his family's twelve-acre (49,000 m²) walnut farm in Carmel Valley, California, with his wife. They have three grown sons and six grandchildren.[17]

Awards

References

  1. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43591679/ns/politics-more_politics/
  2. ^ a b "Leon Panetta Tapped to Head CIA, Prompting Criticism From Lawmakers". Fox News. January 5, 2009.
  3. ^ "Obama names Panetta for CIA". Associated Press. January 9, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2009. [dead link]
  4. ^ Silverleib, Alan (April 28, 2011). "New men, new missions at Pentagon and CIA". CNN. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  5. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43591679/ns/politics-more_politics/
  6. ^ http://www.politicalfamilytree.com/samples%20content/members/all_others/Panetta-CA-1.pdf
  7. ^ "Hon. Leon Panetta Appointed CIA Director". Alumni. JSA and the Junior Statesmen Foundation. May 21, 2009. Retrieved December 11, 2009. [dead link]
  8. ^ Profile of Leon Panetta, Santa Clara University Law School web site, accessed April 28, 2011
  9. ^ "Message to the Department of Defense from Defense Secretary Leon Panetta". Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  10. ^ Biography, Leon Panetta, Public Broadcasting Service program News Hour guest profiles, accessed April 28, 2011
  11. ^ "Conversation with Leon Panetta", p. 2
  12. ^ Gizzi, John (April 28, 2011), "Leon Panetta: Bipartisan in Spirit but a Liberal at Heart", Human Events
  13. ^ Study group member profile, Leon Panetta, published by Iraq Study Group, accessed April 28, 2011
  14. ^ Opinion column, Democrats See Potential Gains, by Matt Pinkus, Congressional Quarterly, published in Eugene Register-Guard, August 23, 1976
  15. ^ Newspaper article, Democrats in Congress Keep Old Seats, Take 1 From GOP, Los Angeles Times, November 4, 1976
  16. ^ Newspaper article, State Democrats Gain By One Seat In Congress, by Associated Press, published in Modesto Bee, November 4, 1976
  17. ^ a b "Hon. Leon E. Panetta", U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
  18. ^ Newspaper article, Budget Summit Opens, by Tom Raum, Associated Press, published in Hendersonville Times-News, May 16, 1990
  19. ^ Newspaper article, As Budget Chief, Panetta May Be Frugal Deficit Foe, Christian Science Monitor, December 11, 1992
  20. ^ Newspaper column, Clinton Is Winning On Balanced Budget, by Morton Kondracke, Pomeroy-Middleton Daily Sentinel, January 23, 1996
  21. ^ Newspaper article, Flexibility Shown in Budget Talks, by Associated Press, published in Williamson Daily News, September 17, 1996
  22. ^ Ignatius, David (January 7, 2009). "A Surprise for Langley". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
  23. ^ "Dianne Feinstein Not Too Pleased With Panetta Pick « The Washington Independent". Washingtonindependent.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  24. ^ "JONES: Where loyalty is vital". Washington Times. January 8, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  25. ^ "Panetta a 'Brave' Choice, Says Former CIA Agent – The Corner – National Review Online". Corner.nationalreview.com. January 6, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  26. ^ "Senate confirms Panetta as CIA director". Associated Press. February 12, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  27. ^ "Leon Panetta Gets a Rock Star Welcome at CIA Headquarters". The Wall Street Journal. February 19, 2009.
  28. ^ Report: U.S. CIA chief to be in India to discuss terrorism, Taliban
  29. ^ CIA Pakistan Campaign Is Working, Director Says, Mark Mazzetti and Helene Cooper, New York Times, February 26, 2009, A15
  30. ^ Gerstein, Josh. "CIA Director Panetta Warns Against Politicization". NBC New York. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  31. ^ [1][dead link]
  32. ^ "25 Militants Are Killed In Attack In Pakistan". The New York Times. May 17, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
  33. ^ Bergen, Peter (June 3, 2009). "The Drone War". NewAmerica.net. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  34. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drone_attacks_in_Pakistan
  35. ^ http://www.senate.gov/galleries/pdcl/index.htm
  36. ^ a b Panetta Institute – Leon Panetta – retrieved 11/22/2008
  37. ^ Newspaper article, Panetta Doesn't Seek Governorship, San Jose Mercury News, July 20, 2003
  38. ^ Joint Ocean Commission Initiative – Panetta bio
  39. ^ Consortium for Ocean Leadership – Panetta bio
  40. ^ Watkins bio
  41. ^ National Marine Sanctuary Foundation – Leon Panetta
  42. ^ "Stanford University, Monterey Bay Aquarium launch center to save oceans". News.mongabay.com. January 9, 2008. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  43. ^ Television news report transcript, Iraq Survey Group Report Released, by Kim Landers, the World Today, ABC (Australia), December 7, 2006
  44. ^ Newspaper article, Iraq Study Group to Present Report to Bush, by Brian Knowlton, New York Times, December 3, 2006
  45. ^ Newspaper column, Commencement Season, by Laslo Boyd, The Gazette, Gaithersburg, Maryland, May 22, 2009
  46. ^ Newspaper article, Panetta Urges Service, Leadership, by Susan Kinzie, Washington Post, May 22, 2009
  47. ^ Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Commissioners
  48. ^ Pew Oceans Commission
  49. ^ NMSF ~~ Board of Directors ~ Ex-Officio Members ~ Jeffery Mora ~~
  50. ^ Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. | Home
  51. ^ [2][dead link]
  52. ^ Leon E. Panetta
  53. ^ "Membership of National Review Board Completed". U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. August 23, 2002. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  54. ^ "Sylvia M. Varni", SourceWatch
  55. ^ O'Shea, Jennifer (January 8, 2009), "10 Things You Didn't Know about Leon Panetta", U.S. News and World Report
  56. ^ Doyle, Michael (April 27, 2011), "Panetta will Bring a Lifetime of Service to the Pentagon", Modesto Bee, McClatchy Newspapers
  57. ^ [3][dead link]
  58. ^ Santa Clara (U.) Law School – Law Alumni Special Achievement Award
  59. ^ "Speakers for 103rd Commencement". Newswise.com. April 29, 2005. Retrieved August 21, 2010.

Further reading

  • Clinton, Bill (2005). My Life. Vintage. ISBN 1-4000-3003-X.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leon Panetta.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the House of Representatives
from California's 16th congressional district
1977–1993 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chairperson of the House Committee on the Budget
1989–1993 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the House of Representatives
from California's 17th congressional district
1993 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Director of the Office of Management and Budget
1993–1994 		Succeeded by
Preceded by White House Chief of Staff
1994–1997 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Secretary of Defense
2011–present 		Incumbent
Government offices
Preceded by Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
2009–2011 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Secretary of the Treasury Order of Precedence of the United States
as Secretary of Defense 		Succeeded byas Attorney General
U.S. presidential line of succession
Preceded byas Secretary of the Treasury 6th in line
as Secretary of Defense 		Succeeded byas Attorney General

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