Author Bio

William R. Piekney served as US Naval officer for four years after graduation from Bowling Green State University. In the Navy he served two years aboard ship and two years onshore in San Diego managing amphibious training operations. He remained in the Navy Reserve and earned the rank of Lt. Commander.

He joined the CIA in 1967 serving for nearly 30 years in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He was under deep cover early in his career and later was station chief numerous times, including West Africa, Pakistan and Egypt. While in Pakistan Mr. Piekney managed the early years of US Covert support to the Afghan resistance to the Soviet invasion, which culminated four years later in the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan, a major US and CIA achievement. While in Cairo he managed Egyptian Intelligence support to the American lead coalition to drive Saddam Hussein from Kuwait in the First Gulf War. US forces massing for that effort moved chiefly through Egypt’s Suez Canal and military air terminals.

During his active service he was the CIA representative to a months long FBI hosted intragovernmental panel relating to intelligence support to law enforcement. Prior to his retirement in 1996 as a member of the Senior Executive Service he directed the Agency’s African operations and then East Asia operations, traveling extensively to those regions to maintain and develop relations with host intelligence and security services.

Mr. Piekney received the CIA’s Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the CIA’s Intelligence Commendation Medal, and the State Department’s Superior Honor Award. He was also awarded the rank of Distinguished Officer of the Senior Intelligence Services, the highest honor within the awards systems.

Following his service in CIA Mr. Piekney:

• Was the DCI’s representative to the Secretary of State’s Accountability Review Board investigating a terrorist attack on a U.S. installation in Saudi Arabia;

• Was appointed as the Director of Studies at a CIA sponsored think tank;

• Lead several highly classified Intelligence Community-wide studies involving nuclear weapons in the subcontinent and countering terrorism in the United States. In that latter capacity he drew heavily on the resources of the FBI and domestic security and law enforcement agencies;

• Headed the Human Intelligence section of the George W. Bush Presidential Commission on The Intelligence Capabilities of The United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD Commission);

• Regularly consulted for international clients on defense and national security issues.