Brian Carbaugh

Brian served over 32 years in the Marines and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), culminating as the Director of CIA’s elite Special Activities Center (SAC). As Director of SAC, Brian was the senior paramilitary and special operations advisor to three CIA Directors, set SAC’s strategic vision, and oversaw CIA’s worldwide paramilitary and special operations, encompassing multiple business units, thousands of employees, and multi-billion dollars in infrastructure. 

Prior to leading SAC, Brian was Chief of Staff to two CIA Directors. In this role, Brian was part of the CIA’s senior leadership team and assisted the Director in executing, managing, and overseeing the CIA’s global intelligence enterprise. Over his career, Brian forged deep relationships with cabinet-level counterparts across the Defense Department and Intelligence Community and with the U.S. Congress to advance America’s vital national security needs. He regularly synchronized strategic intelligence and policy initiatives with the White House, the U.S. military, the Intelligence Community, and foreign partners. He has served in war zones and foreign posts around the world and is the recipient of the CIA’s Intelligence Star for Valor, the CIA’s Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the CIA’s Donovan Award, and the federal service Presidential Rank Award.

Brian holds a BS in Political Science from the US Air Force Academy and an MA in National Security Studies from Georgetown University. He is a co-founder of the Third Option Foundation, a non-profit supporting the operators and families of the CIA’s special operations community. He is also Senior Advisor to Red Cell Partners’ Cyber and National Security Practices.