John Kiriakou is a former CIA officer, author, and internationally recognized whistleblower who exposed the CIA’s use of torture during the war on terror. During his CIA career, he served as an analyst and counterterrorism operations officer, including as Chief of Counterterrorist Operations in Pakistan after the September 11 attacks. 

In 2007, Kiriakou became the first U.S. government official to publicly confirm that waterboarding had been used against detainees at CIA black sites. He was later prosecuted for disclosing classified information to a reporter and served nearly two years in prison. Since his release, Kiriakou has become a prominent advocate on issues including whistleblower protection, torture, civil liberties, prison reform, and government accountability. He is the author of several books and has received major honors for his whistleblowing and defense of civil liberties, including the Joe A. Callaway Award for Civic Courage, the Sam Adams Award, and the PEN First Amendment Award.