Porter Goss

Porter J. Goss served as the 19th and last director of central intelligence from September 2004 until April 2005. At that time, he became the first director of the Central Intelligence Agency under the newly signed Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act. He continued as director of the CIA until May 2006. Currently, Goss is the chairman of the board and the top Republican at the Office of Congressional Ethics.

Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, 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. With his vital, no-nonsense demeanor, he addresses the transparency in government and how it can hinder security. He also sheds light on the challenges of gathering intelligence in the 21st century, geopolitics, and how emerging technology plays a role in security.

An Operative, A Politico. Before becoming the DCI, Goss served as a Republican congressman from Southwest Florida for almost 16 years. He was chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from 1997 until 2005, serving for almost a decade as a member of the committee, which oversees the intelligence community and authorizes its annual budget. He was also the vice-chair of the House Rules Committee. Goss helped establish and served on the Homeland Security Committee. Additionally, he was a co-sponsor of the USA PATRIOT Act and 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 With Intelligence. Goss was a U.S. army intelligence officer from 1960–1962, and served as a clandestine service officer with the Central Intelligence Agency from 1962–1972. While in the CIA’s directorate of operations, he completed assignments in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe. He was also involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Goss had been recruited to the CIA from his alma matter, Yale University.

After retiring from the CIA as an agent, Goss and his family settled in Sanibel, Florida, where he was a small business owner and a co-founder of a local newspaper. Goss 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. In 1988, he successfully ran for Congress.