Robert Grenier

Robert L. Grenier joined the Central Intelligence Agency in January 1979, embarking on a notable career that spanned 27 years. His early assignments included field work across North Africa, the Middle East, and Western Europe until 1991, and he served as station chief in Algiers, Algeria, in 1990. He then became Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 1993 to 1994 and the first Chief of Operations for the Counter-Proliferation Division from 1994 to 1996. From 1996 to 1999, Grenier directed operational training at Camp Peary, Virginia, a key facility for CIA personnel.

His career advanced significantly in the early 2000s, where he played critical roles in major global events. In 2001, he served as the CIA station chief in Islamabad, Pakistan, where he was instrumental in planning covert operations supporting the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. Following this, in the summer of 2002, he was promoted to lead the Iraq Issues Group, coordinating covert operations for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Grenier further ascended to Director of the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center from 2004 to 2006, overseeing pivotal counter-terrorism efforts during that period. After his retirement from the CIA in 2006, he transitioned to the private sector, becoming the chairman of ERG Partners, a financial and strategic advisory firm, and currently serves as a Senior Advisor to Elixir International (USA).

Grenier is also recognized for his extensive political commentary and analysis on topics ranging from domestic extremism to international relations. His book, “88 Days to Kandahar,” published in 2015, details his experiences and role in the response to the 9/11 attacks. He has contributed opinion pieces to major publications like The New York Times and Al Jazeera, and has been featured on NPR, where he has shared his expertise on national security matters.