At The Chertoff Group, Mr. Pfeiffer will utilize his deep understanding of the Intelligence Community, experience overseeing intelligence organizations and priorities, including the monitoring of the global threat landscape and management of executive communication, to advise clients on the dynamic and evolving nature of today’s threats and the resulting impact to government policy and programs.
“As a seasoned veteran in leading intelligence organizations, Larry brings a unique understanding of the community, deep knowledge of today’s threat landscape and a proven track record in leading complex programs.” said Jim Pflaging, Principal and head of the Business Strategy Practice Area at The Chertoff Group. “Our clients will find his insight to be incredibly powerful in helping them develop more effective growth strategies and market development programs.”
Mr. Pfeiffer joins The Chertoff Group following a successful career spanning 32 years with positions at the White House, Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of National Intelligence and National Security Agency, including a decade as a senior executive making and influencing decisions at the highest levels.
While at the White House, Mr. Pfeiffer served as Senior Director of the Situation Room where he independently led the President’s 24/7 operations and intelligence center, providing timely intelligence and information to the President and senior National Security advisors. Additionally, he initiated the Situation Room’s coverage of cyber-related activity, working closely with the National Security Council’s Cybersecurity Directorate and cyber-related watch centers around the National Capital Region. He also expanded and managed the President’s national security secure communications and information technology infrastructure to better support senior leaders during times of greatest emergency.
Building on an expansive career across multiple intelligence organizations, Mr. Pfeiffer served six Directors and two Acting Directors at the CIA, including three years as Chief of Staff. In this position, he served as the primary adviser to the Director, developing an unparalleled understanding of the organization and relationships with the most senior intelligence and government officials. He later served as Chief for Policy and Coordination at the CIA, building and leading a new organization able to anticipate and analyze policies impacting internal, national, and foreign intelligence relationships. Most recently, Mr. Pfeiffer advised the Director on privacy and civil liberties protection.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Pfeiffer served as the sole executive assistant from the Intelligence Community to the Acting Director of Central Intelligence and was instrumental in the reforms following 9/11 that redefined the leadership and management of the Community. Following the creation of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Mr. Pfeiffer served as the lead staff officer to the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence where he was influential in setting initial organizational structure, policies, and procedures. Mr. Pfeiffer began his career with the National Security Agency, rising from a signals intelligence analyst to Chief of Staff to the Foreign Affairs Director, overseeing all foreign relations activities at NSA as well as the management of over fifty partnerships worldwide.
“I have worked with Larry in a variety of capacities across his career at NSA, DNI, and CIA, developing a deep respect for his knowledge of the American intelligence community,” said General Michael Hayden, Principal at The Chertoff Group. “Larry served as my Chief of Staff at CIA where I witnessed his exceptional decision-making capabilities, intuition at analyzing complex issues, and ability to thoughtfully and tactfully develop, implement and oversee agency priorities. He will be a valuable asset to the Firm and I am honored to have him as my colleague once again.”
Mr. Pfeiffer is a highly respected and recognized expert in the areas of national and homeland security policy, crisis management, secure networked communications, intelligence strategy, analysis and collection, overt and covert operations, and budgetary matters. Over the course of his exemplary career of service, he has advised and worked closely with respected intelligence, military, and national security leaders across the highest levels of government, spanning the Executive Branch and Intelligence Community.
“I am excited to join The Chertoff Group and serve alongside such esteemed security and intelligence leaders as Secretary Chertoff and General Hayden, and the talented and energetic team of experts they have built. The Chertoff Group is a unique platform – one of the only firm’s offering such a broad spectrum of risk management, strategy, security services, and M&A advice in the national security arena,” said Larry Pfeiffer. “I can immediately bring to bear my unique knowledge and wide range of experience gained over the past three decades to help serve The Chertoff Group’s clients in their support of our nation’s security.”
Mr. Pfeiffer is a recipient of numerous awards, including the National Security Medal and two Central Intelligence Agency Director’s Awards, as well as recognition from the President, Vice-President, and National Security Advisor for his efforts supporting them. Mr. Pfeiffer graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Russia Area Studies and earned a Masters of Arts in National Security Studies from Georgetown University. He has also benefited from senior leadership and executive training at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
About The Chertoff Group
The Chertoff Group is a premier global advisory firm focused on security and risk management. The Chertoff Group helps clients grow and secure their enterprise through business strategy, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and risk management services. The Chertoff Group, and its investment banking subsidiary Chertoff Capital, have advised on multiple M&A transactions totaling nearly $7 billion in deal value. Headquartered in Washington D.C., the firm maintains offices in Houston, London, Menlo Park, and New York. For more information about The Chertoff Group, visit www.chertoffgroup.com.
