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[[Image:DCIA-Panetta.jpg|thumb|right|CIA Director Leon Panetta]]'''Leon Edward Panetta''' (born June 28, 1938 in Monterey, California) currently serves as the Director of the [[Central Intelligence Agency]], having been appointed by President [[Barack Obama]] in January 2009. Despite criticisms of his lack of significant intelligence experience, he was unanimously confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] on February 12, 2009.

[[Image:DCIA-Panetta.jpg|thumb|right|CIA Director Leon Panetta]]'''Leon Edward Panetta''' (born June 28, 1938 in Monterey, California) currently serves as the Director of the [[Central Intelligence Agency]], having been appointed by President [[Barack Obama]] in January 2009. Despite criticisms of his lack of significant intelligence experience, he was unanimously confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] on February 12, 2009.

Raised by Italian immigrant parents, Panetta received a bachelor's degree and law degree from [[Santa Clara University]]. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1966, he became a legislative aide in the Senate. In 1971 Panetta rose to become head of the U.S. Office for Civil Rights under President [[Richard Nixon]] and later an executive assistant to [[New York City]] Mayor [[John Lindsay]]. In 1976 Panetta was elected to the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] as a [[Democrat]] from the California Monterey area, and reelected nine times. As chairman of the House Budget Committee, Panetta was credited as a budget hawk that reached across the aisle, while repeatedly voted against the [[Reagan Administration]] on military initiatives.  

Raised by Italian immigrant parents, Panetta received a bachelor's degree and law degree from [[Santa Clara University]]. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1966, he became a legislative aide in the Senate. In 1971 Panetta rose to become head of the U.S. Office for Civil Rights under President [[Richard Nixon]] and later an executive assistant to [[New York City]] Mayor [[John Lindsay]]. In 1976 Panetta was elected to the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] as a [[Democrat]] from the [[California]] Monterey area, and reelected nine times. As chairman of the House Budget Committee, Panetta was credited as a budget hawk that reached across the aisle, while repeatedly voted against the [[Reagan Administration]] on military initiatives.  

Panetta served as director of the [[Office of Management and Budget]] under President [[Bill Clinton]] and was promoted to White House chief of staff in 1994. In 1997 he became director of Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy, a leadership non-profit based at [[California State University]]. In 2006 Panetta was a member of the [[Iraq]] Study Group, along with former [[Secretary of State]] [[James Baker]] and future-[[Secretary of Defense]] [[Robert Gates]].

Panetta served as director of the [[Office of Management and Budget]] under President [[Bill Clinton]] and was promoted to White House chief of staff in 1994. In 1997 he became director of Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy, a leadership non-profit based at [[California State University]]. In 2006 Panetta was a member of the [[Iraq]] Study Group, along with former [[Secretary of State]] [[James Baker]] and future-[[Secretary of Defense]] [[Robert Gates]].