Michael Walker

Mr. Walker is the former Director of CIA's Near East and South Asia Division, formerly CIA's largest division, and was responsible for directing CIA's clandestine intelligence operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and in other countries in the Middle East and South Asia in the late 2000's. His two other senior intelligence service (SIS) leadership positions at CIA Headquarters were Deputy Director of Special Activities Division (world-wide paramilitary operations) (2000-2002), and Chief of Operations in the Counterterrorism Center (1990-1991). He lived abroad 18 of his 29 years with CIA operating mostly undercover as a case officer recruiting and handling foreign sources in various locations in the Middle East, South Asia and Europe, and was Chief of Station in five countries. He lived in Afghanistan in the mid 1980's during the Soviet-Mujahidin war, Beirut in the late 1980's during Lebanon's civil war, and again in Afghanistan in 2002 during the onset of the U.S.-Taliban war. In 2010 he was awarded the William J. Donovan Award for exceptional leadership.

Prior to CIA, in the 1970's, Mr. Walker served as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps and worked as a Peace Corps volunteer on a fisheries project in Rajasthan, India. As of 2026, he is an advisor and consultant to several U.S. government agencies and U.S. corporations.