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Politics & Governance
Leon Panetta
b. 1938Monterey, CAItalian American descendantLiving
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Why Included
Former CIA director, Secretary of Defense, and White House Chief of Staff — one of the broadest federal executive careers in modern Italian American history.
Notable For
- CIA Director 2009–2011
- Secretary of Defense 2011–2013
- White House Chief of Staff 1994–1997
- U.S. Representative CA-16
Honors & Recognition
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2022)
Sources
- Panetta Institutefoundation
- U.S. Department of Defensegovernment
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leon Panetta Italian?
Yes — Leon Panetta is of Italian heritage. Former CIA director, Secretary of Defense, and White House Chief of Staff — one of the broadest federal executive careers in modern Italian American history.
Explore the wider history of Italian Americans.
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Quick Facts
- Field
- Politics & Governance
- Specialty
- Executive Branch
- Years
- b. 1938
- Birth Place
- Monterey, CA
- Origin
- Italian American descendant
- Biography Review
- Draft — Pending Review
- Ancestry Verification
- Confirmed
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