Leon Panetta

**Leon Edward Panetta** (born June 28, 1938) is an American politician who served as the 23rd United States Secretary of Defense from 2011 until 2013. Before that, he served as director of the CIA from 2009 to 2011 and as Bill Clinton's White House Chief of staff from 1994 to 1997.

Panetta was born on June 28, 1938 in Monterey, California to an Itallian-American family. He studied at Santa Clara University. He served in the army from 1964 until 1966. He had won an Army Commendation Medal for his services in the force. Panetta is married to Sylvia Panetta.

## Other websites

- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- Biography of the Central Intelligence Agency (archived)
- Biography of Panetta, Hartnell University
- Conversations with History – Interview with Leon Panetta, UC Berkeley Institute of International Studies
- The Panetta Institute for Public Policy

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **birthname**: Leon Edward Panetta
- **name**: Leon Panetta
- **image**: Leon Panetta, official DoD photo portrait, 2011.jpg
- **office**: 23rd United States Secretary of Defense
- **president**: Barack Obama
- **deputy**: William J. Lynn III, William Lynn
 Ashton Carter
- **term start**: July 1, 2011
- **term end**: February 27, 2013
- **predecessor**: Robert Gates
- **successor**: Chuck Hagel
- **office2**: Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
- **president2**: Barack Obama
- **deputy2**: Stephen Kappes
Michael Morell
- **term start2**: February 13, 2009
- **term end2**: June 30, 2011
- **predecessor2**: Michael Hayden (general), Michael Hayden
- **successor2**: Michael Morell (Acting)
 David Petraeus
- **office3**: 18th White House Chief of Staff
- **president3**: Bill Clinton
- **term start3**: July 17, 1994
- **term end3**: January 20, 1997
- **predecessor3**: Mack McLarty
- **successor3**: Erskine Bowles
- **office4**: 29th Director of the Office of Management and Budget
- **president4**: Bill Clinton
- **term start4**: January 21, 1993
- **term end4**: July 17, 1994
- **predecessor4**: Richard Darman
- **successor4**: Alice Rivlin
- **office5**: Chairman of the United States House Committee on the Budget, House Committee on the Budget
- **term start5**: January 3, 1989
- **term end5**: January 21, 1993
- **predecessor5**: William H. Gray (Pennsylvania politician), William Gray
- **successor5**: Martin Olav Sabo, Martin Sabo
- **state6**: California
- **district6**: California's 17th congressional district, 17th
- **term start6**: January 3, 1993
- **term end6**: January 21, 1993
- **predecessor6**: Burt L. Talcott, Burt Talcott
- **succeeded6**: Sam Farr
- **state7**: California
- **district7**: California's 16th congressional district, 16th
- **term start7**: January 3, 1977
- **term end7**: January 3, 1993
- **predecessor7**: Burt Talcott
- **succeeded7**: Don Edwards (politician), Don Edwards
- **party**: Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party <small>(1971–present)</small>
- **otherparty**: Republican Party (United States), Republican Party <small>(Before 1971)</small>
- **alma mater**: Santa Clara University
- **spouse**: Sylvia
- **profession**: Lawyer
Professor
Politician
Statesman
- **branch**: United States Army
- **serviceyears**: 1964–1966
- **rank**:  First Lieutenant
- **awards**: Army Commendation Medal