About
David Petraeus is a retired United States Army general who later served as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). His military career spanned 37 years, culminating in assignments as commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and U.S. Forces – Afghanistan (USFOR-A). Prior to these roles, he commanded U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) and Multi-National Force – Iraq (MNF-I). His tenure as CIA Director was cut short by his resignation in 2012.
Career Timeline
Commands MNF-I in Iraq
Leads coalition forces in Iraq, implementing counterinsurgency strategies and gaining recognition.
Commander of ISAF
Appointed commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
Director of the CIA
Becomes the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Resigns from CIA
Resigns from his position as CIA Director due to an extramarital affair.
Academic and Consulting Roles
Takes on academic positions and starts a consulting firm.
Joins KKR
Joins private equity firm KKR as chairman of the KKR Global Institute.
Continued Business Ventures
Continues involvement in various business and academic ventures.
Public Speaker and Consultant
Petraeus remains active as a public speaker, consultant, and commentator on military and political affairs.
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Last updated: February 25, 2026