Will Storr
Bestselling Author, A Story is a Deal & The Status Game | Award-Winning Journalist | Storytelling & Behavioral Science Expert
Leon Panetta
23rd U.S. Secretary of Defense | Former Director of the CIA | Former White House Chief of Staff | Statesman on National Security, Intelligence & Leadership
Leon Panetta is one of America's most experienced and respected statesmen, having served as the 23rd Secretary of Defense, Director of the CIA, where he oversaw the operation that brought Osama bin Laden to justice, White House Chief of Staff, and a nine-term Congressman. Known for his integrity and bipartisan spirit, he now chairs the Panetta Institute for Public Policy. On stage, he offers a rare insider's perspective on national security and leadership.
Want to book Leon Panetta as a speaker for your event? Please provide the info below and we’ll get in touch within 24h:
Leon Panetta biography
Few Americans have served at the highest levels of government across as many defining moments as Leon Panetta. Over a career spanning five decades, he has been Secretary of Defense, Director of the CIA, White House Chief of Staff, budget director, and a nine-term congressman, giving him a vantage point on national security, intelligence, and leadership that virtually no one else can match. Widely respected across the political spectrum for his integrity and candor, he brings the wisdom of a lifetime of public service to every stage.
Global affairs speaker Leon Panetta served as the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Defense under President Obama, leading the Pentagon through two wars and a period of intense global change. As Director of the CIA, he oversaw the intelligence operation that located and brought Osama bin Laden to justice, one of the most significant national-security achievements in modern American history. Earlier, as White House Chief of Staff under President Clinton and as director of the Office of Management and Budget, he helped negotiate the balanced budgets of the 1990s.
A Lifetime of Public Service
Panetta’s career began as a U.S. Army intelligence officer and, later, a congressman from California who chaired the House Budget Committee and earned a reputation for principled, bipartisan problem-solving. A graduate of Santa Clara University and its law school, he co-founded the nonpartisan Panetta Institute for Public Policy with his wife Sylvia and chronicled his career in the bestselling memoir Worthy Fights. He remains an active and sought-after voice on world affairs, sharing his insights with leading institutions including the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
As a speaker, Leon Panetta offers audiences a rare, first-hand account of leadership and decision-making at the very top of American government. He speaks on national security and global threats, intelligence and the world’s flashpoints, the qualities of effective leadership, and the importance of public service and strong democratic institutions. Measured, candid, and deeply experienced, he gives senior audiences invaluable insight into the forces shaping the world, from someone who has helped shape them himself.
Leon Panetta Speaking Videos
WATCH: Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta speaks at 2024 Democratic National Convention
Former Defense Sec. Leon Panetta & Axios’ Colin Demarest
Leon Panetta Keynote Topics
Few people have confronted the world's dangers from as many angles as Leon Panetta, as CIA Director, Secretary of Defense, and a leader in Congress. He offers audiences a sweeping, authoritative assessment of the threats facing the United States and the world, from great-power competition and regional conflicts to terrorism, cyber warfare, and emerging technologies, and what they mean for security, business, and global stability in the years ahead.
Panetta has made some of the most consequential decisions in modern government, including his central role in the operation against Osama bin Laden. Drawing on a lifetime at the top, he shares hard-won lessons on leadership under extraordinary pressure: how to make high-stakes decisions with incomplete information, build trust, take responsibility, and lead with integrity. A compelling, deeply human keynote relevant to leaders in every field.
As Director of the CIA, Panetta oversaw the intelligence work that located Osama bin Laden and the operation that followed. In a riveting, first-hand account, he takes audiences inside the world of intelligence and one of its defining moments, illuminating how intelligence really works, the weight of the decisions involved, and the lessons that experience holds for leadership, risk, and resolve.
A lifelong public servant known for his bipartisan spirit, Panetta speaks with candor and hope about the state of American democracy and the importance of principled leadership and civic engagement. Drawing on his work with the Panetta Institute and decades in government, he offers a thoughtful, non-partisan reflection on the challenges facing the country and the enduring values that can help meet them.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Leon Panetta
Why Leon Panetta?
Booking Leon Panetta brings audiences one of the most accomplished and trusted statesmen of the past half-century. Almost no one has held as many senior roles, Secretary of Defense, CIA Director, White House Chief of Staff, budget director, congressman, or made decisions of such consequence, including the operation against Osama bin Laden. Respected across the political spectrum for his integrity and straight talk, he offers a rare, authoritative perspective on national security, intelligence, and leadership, delivered with warmth, candor, and remarkable historical depth. He is ideal for events on global affairs, national security, leadership, and public service. To bring Leon Panetta to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Who is Leon Panetta?
Leon Panetta is an American statesman widely regarded as one of the most experienced public servants of his generation. He served as the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Defense and as Director of the CIA under President Obama, where he oversaw the operation that brought Osama bin Laden to justice. Earlier he was White House Chief of Staff and director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Clinton, and a nine-term U.S. Congressman from California who chaired the House Budget Committee. A former Army intelligence officer and Santa Clara University law graduate, he is the co-founder and chairman of the nonpartisan Panetta Institute for Public Policy and the author of the memoir Worthy Fights.
What was Leon Panetta's role in the operation against Osama bin Laden?
As Director of the CIA from 2009 to 2011, Leon Panetta led the agency during the intelligence effort that located Osama bin Laden and oversaw the process that culminated in the 2011 operation carried out by U.S. special forces. It is widely regarded as one of the most significant national-security achievements in modern American history, and Panetta was a central figure in the decision-making and coordination behind it. He has since spoken and written about the experience, including in his memoir Worthy Fights, offering insight into the intelligence work, the deliberations, and the leadership lessons involved.
What topics does Leon Panetta speak on?
Leon Panetta speaks on national security and global threats, intelligence and world affairs, leadership and decision-making at the highest level, and public service and the future of democracy. His keynotes suit events on global affairs, national security, leadership, and government. To book Leon Panetta as a speaker, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Leon Panetta as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Leon Panetta as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Leon Panetta's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Leon Panetta or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Leon Panetta speaking fee?
Leon Panetta speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Leon Panetta to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Leon Panetta.
How can I contact Leon Panetta?
We only work with Leon Panetta on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Leon Panetta and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Leon Panetta speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Leon Panetta for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Leon Panetta for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Leon Panetta is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Leon Panetta for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
