Commissioners
Leon E. Panetta is the current Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Until his appointment in the Obama Administration, Mr. Panetta was co-chair of the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative and the director of the Leon and Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy at California State University Monterey Bay. Previously, he served as chair of the Pew Oceans Commission. Mr. Panetta served as Chief of Staff for President Bill Clinton from 1994 to 1997 and as Director of the Office of Management and Budget in 1993. Prior to this position, he was a U.S. Representative from California’s 16th (now 17th) congressional district from 1977 to1993. As a Member of Congress, Panetta authored numerous successful measures to protect California’s coast and was the author of legislation establishing the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Prior to entering politics, Mr. Panetta served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and received the Army Commendation Medal. He graduated magna cum laude from Santa Clara University in 1960 and received his J.D. from Santa Clara University Law School, where he was editor of the Law Review.
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