Today we have a great Combat Story that ranges from the military intelligence tactical front lines of counterterrorism and the Korean peninsula to the most strategic of all, serving as the PDB briefer to the President of the United States (POTUS) with senior intelligence officer Michelle DiGruttolo. 👀 Don't miss out! Check out our Combat Check-In for exclusive updates, fascinating historical snippets, and much more! Visit combatstory.com/newsletter. I strongly encourage you to listen to the end of this podcast to get a full appreciation of Michelle’s experience as the President’s briefer, to include her role as the briefer during the Benghazi Consulate attack (you can, of course, listen to our previous interview with Kris “Tanto” Paranto who was on the ground during that attack to hear both the front lines and halls of leadership perspectives on that pivotal day). Michelle began her career as an Army intelligence officer and then transitioned to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) where she would eventually lead a division of 40 fellow analysts. While at DIA, she was handpicked to compile and deliver the President's Daily Brief (also known as the PDB) to then President Obama and his Chief of Staff Jack Lew. The PDB role to POTUS is not a political appointment and is only entrusted to the elite of the intel community’s analytic core, which Michelle is. As always, we do not get political in this podcast, however, to ensure we hear both sides, we also have former President Trump’s PDB briefer booked for later this summer to understand what her experience was like in the Oval Office under another administration. Michelle also briefed and/or worked closely with retired senior leaders Petraeus, McChrystal, Clapper, and several household names across her career, exposing her to leadership at the very highest levels. After service, Michelle went on to found Sage Raven Advisors, where she leverages an extensive network of local advisors, partners, and affiliates and couple them with cutting-edge technologies and data analytics, to provide actionable and timely insights to clients in complex and dynamic geopolitical landscapes. I hope you enjoy this very interesting deep dive into the life of a career military intel officer and the life of a PDB Briefer to the President as much as I did. Find Michelle on LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelledigruttolo/Email michelle@sage-raven.comSage Raven Advisors www.sage-raven.com 🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story: 🔗 Ryan’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/combatstory 🛒 Merch Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ 📸 Instagram: @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory 📘 Facebook: @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial 📖 Learn more about Ryan: https://www.combatstory.com/aboutus 🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Key Highlights: Military Intelligence to Presidential Briefings: Michelle's journey from an Army intelligence officer to leading a division at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). The President's Daily Brief (PDB): Discover the intricacies of compiling and delivering the PDB to President Obama and Chief of Staff Jack Lew, including her crucial role during the Benghazi Consulate attack. Leadership Insights: Michelle's interactions with renowned leaders like Petraeus, McChrystal, and Clapper, and her exposure to leadership at the highest levels. 🔔 Subscribe for More Combat Stories: https://www.youtube.com/combatstory 👍 Like, Comment, and Share: Your support helps us bring more incredible stories to light! #CombatStory #MilitaryIntelligence #PDBBriefer Show Notes: 00:00 Intro00:36 Guest Introduction: Michelle DiCartullo01:22 Michelle's Role as PDB Briefer03:00 Insights into Intelligence Analysis08:08 The Path to Becoming a PDB Briefer18:26 Early Career and Military Experience38:26 Tactical Missions in Korea39:13 Life as an Officer in Korea39:42 Differences Between Intel and Service Personnel40:42 9/11: A Personal Account41:51 Counterterrorism Operations During the Surge43:00 Challenges of Analytic Work in Counterterrorism44:52 Daily Life of a Deployed Branch Chief46:31 Building Morale and Team Spirit49:28 Rewards and Challenges of Targeting Work50:40 Standing Up the CJIATF in Afghanistan54:05 The Bin Laden Raid and Its Impact57:21 Reflections on a Diverse Military Career01:05:27 The Role of a PDB Briefer01:12:40 A Tough Night for the PDB Briefer01:13:51 Initial Signs of Trouble in Benghazi01:14:59 Realization and Response01:16:51 Disagreement with the Analyst01:19:22 Briefing the President01:20:29 Aftermath and Fallout01:23:50 Leaks and Challenges01:30:50 Reflections on Mentorship and Leadership01:34:41 Current Work and Insights01:39:02 Personal Touches and Sentimental Items01:40:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
