Cedric Leighton

Cedric Leighton is a founding partner of CYFORIX, a cyber risk and security solutions consultancy and the Chairman of Cedric Leighton Associates, LLC a global strategic risk consultancy. He is also a retired US Air Force Colonel and a CNN Military Analyst, providing on-air commentary on military and international security issues to CNN’s US and international audiences. His analysis of the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza has been an integral part of CNN’s coverage since the start of those conflicts..

Colonel Leighton has also been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, France’s Le Figaro, Correio Braziliense, Portugal’s Expresso and Spain’s La Razon as well as C4ISR Magazine and ADS Advance. Previously Colonel Leighton wrote for several publications, including The Hill and Leadership Excellence Magazine.

Prior to founding his strategic risk consultancy, Colonel Leighton served for 26 years as an Intelligence Officer in the US Air Force. During this period, he deployed five times to the Middle East, served at US Special Operations Command, directed specialized intelligence efforts during combat operations, witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall, was a Squadron Commander and served twice at the Pentagon, first on the Air Staff and later on the Joint Staff. His last military assignment was as the Deputy Training Director for the National Security Agency, where he championed training initiatives for the nation’s cyber warriors.

His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, seven Meritorious Service Medals and the Humanitarian Service Medal. He was a Distinguished Graduate of the US Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps and received the Joint Specialty Officer designation.

Colonel Leighton graduated magna cum laude from Cornell University and holds a Master’s Degree in International Studies from Angelo State University.