John F. Riggs

John F. Riggs is an American former intelligence officer and diplomat known for his work in signals intelligence, counterterrorism, and diplomatic security. He served in senior positions that interfaced with agencies and institutions across the United States federal apparatus and allied services, and later transitioned to private-sector consulting and public commentary. Riggs’s career connected him with a broad network of organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions involved in national security and international relations.

Early life and education

Riggs was born in the United States and educated at institutions that placed him within networks including Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, Georgetown University, and American University. His undergraduate and graduate studies involved coursework and affiliations that intersected with programs at Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of Chicago, and Princeton University. While a student he engaged with centers and institutes such as the Council on Foreign Relations, Brookings Institution, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, RAND Corporation, and Wilson Center. Riggs developed language and regional expertise linked to programs at Middlebury College, University of California, Berkeley, Tufts University (Fletcher School), Syracuse University (Maxwell School), and University of Michigan. He participated in fellowships and seminars at National Defense University, Naval War College, Air War College, and Army War College. His early mentors and instructors included scholars associated with Henry Kissinger, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Samuel Huntington, Fareed Zakaria, and Walter Russell Mead.

Military and intelligence career

Riggs’s operational and analytical career spanned roles that linked him to organizations such as the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of State. He worked on counterterrorism and signals intelligence issues in collaboration with components of the United States Navy, United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, as well as joint staffs including the Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. Special Operations Command. His assignments involved liaison with allied services such as the British Secret Intelligence Service, Government Communications Headquarters, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Australian Signals Directorate, New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, and NATO bodies including SHAPE and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Riggs participated in operations and policy planning during conflicts and crises linked to the Gulf War, War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Iraq War, Kosovo War, and contingency planning related to Iran–United States tensions and North Korea. He contributed to programs intersecting with the USA PATRIOT Act, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), and interagency initiatives with the Department of Homeland Security and Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Riggs’s work involved coordination with contractors and laboratories such as MITRE Corporation, Applied Research Associates, Booz Allen Hamilton, Science Applications International Corporation, and Palantir Technologies.

Post-government career and private sector work

After leaving government service Riggs transitioned to roles with defense firms, consulting entities, and academic appointments, working with companies including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, General Dynamics, and Leidos. He advised international organizations such as the United Nations, NATO, European Union External Action Service, and Interpol on security and intelligence modernization. Riggs held visiting fellowships and lectured at universities and centers including Harvard Kennedy School, Stanford Hoover Institution, Yale Jackson Institute, Columbia SIPA, Georgetown School of Foreign Service, Johns Hopkins SAIS, and the Aspen Institute. He served on advisory boards connected to Center for a New American Security, Hudson Institute, Heritage Foundation, and Chatham House. His consultancy work included projects with multinational corporations, sovereign governments, and nonprofit organizations, and he engaged with venture investors and accelerators tied to In-Q-Tel, Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and BlackRock.

Publications and public commentary

Riggs authored and coauthored articles, reports, and op-eds for outlets and journals such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, The Atlantic, Politico, Lawfare, and War on the Rocks. He contributed chapters to edited volumes published by Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Stanford University Press, and Routledge. Riggs presented testimony and briefings before panels and committees including the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Senate Armed Services Committee, and House Foreign Affairs Committee. He spoke at conferences organized by Munich Security Conference, Aspen Security Forum, Sydney Foreign Affairs Dialogue, Shangri-La Dialogue, and World Economic Forum. His public commentary engaged with themes appearing in analyses by James Clapper, Michael Hayden, John Brennan, James Comey, and Robert Gates.

Personal life and legacy

Riggs’s personal life included family and community ties with associations such as American Red Cross, United Service Organizations, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and The Rotary Club. His legacy is reflected in mentorship roles and endowments at institutions including Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University, and Tufts University. Tributes and critiques of his career have appeared in publications tied to The New Yorker, The Economist, Foreign Policy, and National Review. His contributions continue to influence practitioners and scholars associated with Council on Foreign Relations, Brookings Institution, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Category:American intelligence officers Category:American diplomats