Porter J. Goss became director of the Central Intelligence Agency on April 21, 2005 and served in that position until May 26, 2006. Before that, he served as the 19th Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) from September of 2004 through April of 2005. Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities, Goss speaks about the importance of a clandestine intelligence agency on a global stage, the impact the CIA has had on the American way of life, and the role of ethics in both national and foreign policy. He addresses the transparency in government and how it can hinder security, and sheds light on the challenges of gathering intelligence in the 21st century, the new enemy, and how emerging technology plays a role in national security.

An operative, a politico. Before his tenure working in Central Intelligence, Goss served as the congressman from Southwest Florida for almost 16 years. He was chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from 1997 until his nomination as DCI in August 2004. He served for almost a decade as a member of the committee, which oversees the intelligence community and authorizes its annual budget. During the 107th Congress, Goss co-chaired the joint congressional inquiry into the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. He is only the second director of Central Intelligence to have served in congress.

In addition to intelligence, Goss' congressional career focused on the environment, House ethics, senior issues, and the Rules Committee. He was a leader on Everglade's legislation and takes great pride in the passage of the Ricky Ray Bill which offered relief to victims who contracted HIV through a contaminated blood supply.

Leading by intelligence. Goss was a U.S. army intelligence officer from 1960 to 1962. He served as a clandestine service officer with the Central Intelligence Agency from 1962 until 1972. While in the CIA's directorate of operations, he completed assignments in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.

After leaving the CIA, Goss and his family settled in Sanibel, Florida, where he was a small business owner and founded a newspaper. He was elected to the Sanibel City Council in 1974 and served there until 1983, including three years as mayor. From 1983 until 1988, Goss was a member of the Lee County (Florida) Commission, where he served as its chairman from 1985 to 1986.

Armed with a vast wellspring of experience - on the front lines, cloaked in secrecy, and spearheading major intelligence operations - Porter Goss discusses his time spent serving the United States. His vital, no-nonsense demeanor punctuates each point addressed, from the safety of Americans today to ethics in a global forum.

"Intelligence is absolutely necessary. There are no governments in the world today that do not understand, respect, and support raised awareness and responsibility."