Michael Barry was the Senior Director for Intelligence Programs for the United States National Security Council (NSC) in 2017 and 2018.[1] He succeeded Ezra Cohen-Watnick who left in August 2017.[2][3] Barry's appointment was well received within the NSC due to having years of experience in government and respect for established protocol, and due to his predecessor Cohen-Watnick's repeated clashes with the CIA, fellow NSC staffers, and Cabinet officials.[4] Barry has been a CIA official and served in the Air Force from 1982 and 1992, including as a special agent in its Air Force Office of Special Investigations and was deployed to Europe.[2] According to his LinkedIn profile, he graduated from Northeastern University in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.[citation needed] Barry was working in Afghanistan with Medecins du Monde in 1992.[5]
According to BuzzFeed, shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Barry allegedly worked on a CIA sponsored assassination program to kill terrorists with Erik Prince.[6] Prince was removed from the program in 2006, and it was disbanded in 2009, after Barack Obama became president.[7]
It was reported in July 2018 that Barry would be leaving his NSC position to return to CIA.[4][3]
References edit
- ^ Cole, Matthew; Scahill, Jeremy (December 5, 2017). "Trump White House Weighing Plans for Private Spies to Counter "Deep State" Enemies". The Intercept. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ a b Toosi, Nahal; Lippman, Daniel; Bender, Bryan (October 6, 2017). "CIA vet replaces controversial official for national security post". Politico.
- ^ a b Anapol, Avery (July 17, 2018). "Top intel official leaving National Security Council: report". The Hill. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ a b Brannen, Kate; Ackerman, Spencer (July 18, 2018). "National Security Council's Intelligence Chief Is Leaving as John Bolton Cleans House". The Daily Beast. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
- ^ Caschetta, A. J. (September 6, 2016). "Massoud Day, September 9: America's Best Ally in Afghanistan". Gatestone Institute. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ Roston, Aram (November 13, 2017). "CIA Officer Joins NSC Staff As Agency Vows To Be More "Vicious"". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
- ^ Ciralsky, Adam (January 2010). "January 2010: Adam Ciralsky on Blackwater". The Hive. Vanity Fair. Retrieved January 16, 2018.