Ratcliffe's Revolving Door: From CIA to Defense Titans

Ratcliffe's Outside Ventures

John Ratcliffe, Donald Trump's pick to lead the CIA, has spun through Washington's revolving door after his government tenure.

Ratcliffe has consulted for defense contractors specializing in autonomous aircraft technology, a key area for the CIA's covert drone program. He has also worked for private equity and venture capital firms.

Ratcliffe's Aggressive Stance

During his confirmation hearing, Ratcliffe pledged to take a more aggressive approach at the CIA, prioritizing a focus on China. This could appeal to hawkish Democrats.

Despite Trump's past attacks on intelligence agencies, Ratcliffe's confirmation seems likely.

Ratcliffe and Silicon Valley Defense Contractors

Ratcliffe's ties to the Silicon Valley defense industry align with Trump's support for tech giants like Anduril Industries, Palantir, and SpaceX.

This shift suggests a move towards emerging defense technologies.

Ratcliffe's Work with AI Companies

Ratcliffe has served on the advisory boards of AI companies Arctop, Latent AI, and Shield AI.

These companies work on AI-powered brain signal interpretation, military technology, and autonomous aircraft. Ratcliffe's experience aligns with the CIA's interest in cutting-edge technologies.

Other Consulting Roles

In addition, Ratcliffe has consulted for investment firm Perot Jain, which has government contracts for defense companies, as well as Blackstone Inc. and Coherent Logix, a processor manufacturer including for space applications.

Ratcliffe is also a senior advisor to American Global Strategies, LLC, founded by Robert C. O'Brien, a former national security advisor under Trump.