John Sipher
Guest Author
John Sipher (@john_sipher) is the co-founder of Spycraft Entertainment, a firm providing content to the entertainment industry, and a Director of Client Services at CrossLead, a software/consulting firm.
John is a sought-after foreign policy and intelligence expert. His articles have been published in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Politico, Foreign Affairs, Newsweek, Slate, Lawfare, and The Cipher Brief as well as Just Security. He regularly appears on the PBS NewsHour, CNN, MSNBC, BBC and speaks to corporate, academic and governmental groups.
John retired in 2014 after a 28-year career in the Central Intelligence Agency’s National Clandestine Service. At the time of his retirement, he was a member of the CIA’s Senior Intelligence Service, the leadership team that guides CIA activities globally. John served multiple overseas tours as Chief of Station and Deputy Chief of Station in Europe, Asia, and in high-threat environments. He has significant experience working with foreign and domestic partners to solve national security challenges. John also served as a lead instructor in the CIA’s clandestine training school and was a regular lecturer at the CIA’s leadership development program. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal.
John graduated from Hobart College and has a Master’s in International Affairs from Columbia University. He has attended a variety of executive courses at Harvard University, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, The Aspen Institute, and the Intelligence Community’s Executive Leadership program.
Articles by this author:
Same Data, Same Strategy: A New Look at How the Trump Campaign and Russian Intelligence Operated in 2016
by John Sipher
May 21st, 2021
A Letter to President-Elect Biden on Restoring Relations with the Intelligence Community
by Marc Polymeropoulos and John Sipher
Nov 9th, 2020
Why the 2020 Election Will Be A Mess Part II: Beyond Russian Disinformation
by Alex Finley, Asha Rangappa and John Sipher
Mar 9th, 2020
Why the 2020 Election Will Be A Mess: It’s Just Too Easy for Putin
by Alex Finley, John Sipher and Asha Rangappa
Feb 19th, 2020
Is Trump a Russian Agent?: Explaining Terms of Art and Examining the Facts
by John Sipher
Apr 16th, 2019
Trump’s Moves Against the Intelligence Community Are Hurting U.S. National Security
by John Sipher and Benjamin Haas
Jan 31st, 2019
Western Covert Action and Russian Active Measures: Hypocrisy or Divergent Values?
by John Sipher
Jan 22nd, 2019
Putin Had a Win-Win Strategy for Life Post-2016; Trump, Not So Much
by Alex Finley, John Sipher and Asha Rangappa
Sep 21st, 2018
Collusion Doesn’t Have to be Criminal to be an Ongoing Threat
by Alex Finley, Asha Rangappa and John Sipher
Dec 15th, 2017