Cedric Edmund George Leighton

Background

Cedric Edmund George Leighton was born on April 30, 1962, in Oakland, California, to Albert Chester Leighton and Estella Ruth Dietel Leighton. His early professional interests developed in the setting of the late Cold War, when intelligence, electronic security, and military communications were becoming increasingly important to United States national defense.

While studying at Cornell University, Leighton also worked as a news anchor for WVBR Radio in Ithaca from 1982 to 1984. WVBR is a student-oriented, noncommercial radio station associated with Cornell and provided a setting for his early experience in broadcasting and public communication.

Education

Leighton received an AB from Cornell University in 1984, graduating magna cum laude. Cornell, founded in 1865 as a private university with a public mission, combines liberal-arts education with specialized professional and scientific study; its undergraduate honors tradition included the distinctions cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude.

He later earned a master's degree in international studies from Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas. Angelo State's graduate programs include interdisciplinary study of international affairs and are organized through a university whose educational mission combines professional preparation, research, and service to the wider region.

Career

Leighton began his military career in 1984 when he was commissioned in the United States Air Force. His early assignments included flight operations and deployment command with the 6948 Electronic Security Squadron in San Antonio, followed by executive-officer work and protocol duties at Headquarters Electronic Security Command. Electronic security organizations supported the protection and analysis of military communications and signals during the final years of the Cold War.

From 1988 to 1990, he served as chief of flight operations with the 690 Electronic Security Wing in Berlin. The assignment placed his work within the divided European security environment of the late Cold War and the period surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall. From 1990 to 1993, he was deputy chief of the special actions branch at Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida, where his work was associated with the operational planning environment of special operations forces.

Leighton served at Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas from 1993, first as an instructor supervisor with the 315th Training Squadron and then as flight commander for analysis and reporting training with the 312th Training Squadron. Goodfellow was a major Air Force training center for intelligence and related specialties. A Cornell alumni account described his later training responsibility as involving thousands of students from across the military services.

During the later part of his Air Force career, Leighton held assignments at the Pentagon and the National Security Agency. At the Joint Staff, he served as deputy director for Warfighter Support and Integration in the Intelligence Directorate; his final military assignment was deputy director for training at the NSA. He deployed five times to the Middle East and participated in work connected with Operation Iraqi Freedom. He retired from active service as a colonel in 2010 after 26 years as an intelligence officer.

After leaving the Air Force, Leighton founded and became president of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic-risk and leadership-management consultancy. He has also worked as a national-security and military analyst for television and radio, appearing for CNN and other domestic and international broadcasters. His public commentary has focused on military operations, intelligence, cybersecurity, geopolitics, and national security.

Achievements

• Leighton completed a 26-year career as a United States Air Force intelligence officer, serving from operational and training assignments to senior positions at the Joint Staff and National Security Agency.

• He founded Cedric Leighton Associates, a consultancy specializing in strategic risk, leadership, national security, and related organizational issues.

• He has provided public analysis of military, intelligence, cybersecurity, and international-affairs subjects through CNN and other broadcast and print media.

Views

Leighton's public work emphasizes the importance of disciplined analysis, strategic planning, leadership, and clear communication in national security and organizational decision-making. His consulting and media commentary frame international affairs as requiring attention to operational conditions, intelligence, technology, and the interaction between political objectives and military capabilities.

Personality

Professional descriptions characterize Leighton as analytical, disciplined, knowledgeable, and an effective communicator. These descriptions are consistent with his documented work in military intelligence, training, consulting, and broadcast analysis.

Quotes from others about the person

• A professional recommendation described Leighton as possessing broad knowledge, strong work ethic, discipline, intelligence, communication skills, and a strong sense of values and loyalty.

Interests

• Reading, running, physical fitness, hiking, foreign travel, and languages.

Connections

Leighton's parents were Albert Chester Leighton and Estella Ruth Dietel Leighton. He is married to Amy Leighton, and they have a son, Samuel.

Father:

Albert Chester Leighton

Mother:

Estella Ruth Dietel Leighton

Wife:

Amy Leighton

Son:

Samuel Leighton

References

• Cedric Leighton Associates, About Cedric Leighton Biographical account of Leighton's 26-year United States Air Force intelligence career, senior assignments, military awards, retirement as a colonel in 2010, consulting work, media appearances, languages, and education.
• Cornell Alumni News, Class Notes Cornell alumni account describing Leighton's service in the United States Air Force, his responsibility for analysis and reporting training, travel, and continuing military career.
  2005