June 16, 2020

Foreign policy analysts have long argued that the country’s security depends not merely on its military strength and on adroit diplomacy, but on a well-funded and highly professional Intelligence Community. Recent events, including the battle over “outing” the CIA whistle-blower in the Trump impeachment case and the controversy over the nomination of intense partisans to fill the important position of Director of National Intelligence, have raised concerns about the objectivity and professionalism of this vital national security asset. Our March speaker, a veteran of the CIA’s Directorate of Operations, is well qualified to discuss this subject.

Meredith Woodruff served in the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) Directorate of Operations, living and working for more than twenty-five years in Central Eurasia, the Near East, Africa, and Europe. She retired from the CIA in 2007 as its most senior female officer in operations.

Upon retirement from the government, Meredith joined Abraxas Corporation, a large, international technology company, where she served as Vice President until 2010. She then founded COPIA Coaching and Consulting, a woman-owned and managed partnership that provides executive coaching, leadership development and organizational change services to federal, state and municipal agencies and private sector organizations and corporations in the U.S. and internationally.

In 2013, Meredith returned to her native Stillwater where she currently serves on the board of Oklahoma State University’s Friends of Music, supporting the School of Performing Art, and the advisory board of its School of Global Studies and International Partnerships.