S. Leslie Ireland

Professional Background

Leslie I. is a distinguished board member and executive with a wealth of experience in the economic and national security sectors. Her career has been marked by substantial roles aimed at safeguarding U.S. interests. Leslie's expertise spans financial intelligence, threat finance, and cybersecurity. She has had the unique opportunity to work directly with U.S. Presidents and Cabinet members, cementing her role as a significant player in national security.

Educational Foundation

Leslie's educational foundation laid the groundwork for her illustrious career. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Government from Franklin & Marshall College, completed in 1981, and followed this with a Master’s Degree in Russian Studies from Georgetown University, completed in 1983. Further solidifying her expertise in cybersecurity, Leslie earned a CERT Certificate in Cybersecurity Oversight from NACD/Carnegie Mellon University in January 2019.

Career at CIA and ODNI

Her professional journey reflects a progressive buildup of responsibilities and accomplishments. Leslie began her career at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where she held various roles from 1985 until 2003. Her dedication led her to become an Executive Advisor to both the Director and Deputy Director of Central Intelligence from 2004 to 2005. Later, Leslie became the Iran Mission Manager at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), a position she held from 2005 to 2008.

Role as President's Daily Intelligence Briefer

One of the more notable points in her career was her role as President's Daily Intelligence Briefer at the ODNI from 2008 to 2010, where she briefed President Barack Obama on sensitive and classified intelligence. From July 2010 to November 2016, Leslie served as the Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Concurrently, she was also the National Intelligence Manager for Threat Finance at ODNI, indicating her dual expertise in financial threats and national security.

Chairman of the Financial Threats Council

After her tenure at the Treasury, Leslie continued to impact the financial security landscape by taking on the position of Chairman of the Financial Threats Council at the Intelligence and National Security Alliance from May 2017 to February 2021.

Board and Advisory Roles

In more recent years, Leslie has served in several high-profile board and advisory roles. Since October 2017, she has been a member of the Board of Directors at Citigroup. Additionally, she has been part of the Board of Directors at the KnightSwan Acquisition Corporation since January 2022, and the Stimson Center since April 2017. Her focus on cybersecurity is evident through her memberships in the Cyber Advisory Board at Chubb, the Board of Advisors at Cyber Florida, and the Cyber Risk Directors Network at Tapestry Networks.

Leslie also provides strategic advice as an advisor to Enveil, a data security company, since March 2019. Her diverse and extensive career showcases a trajectory defined by her commitment to enhancing U.S. national security and financial integrity.

Current Status

Currently based in Baltimore, Leslie remains an influential figure in the cybersecurity and financial intelligence communities, though she is not open to new work opportunities. Her impressive career and educational background, combined with her premium LinkedIn membership and a follower count of 646, underscore her standing as a leader and innovator in her field.