Leon Edward Panetta (born June 28, 1938) was the 23rd United States Secretary of Defense from 2011 until 2013. Before that, he served as director of the CIA from 2009 to 2011 and as Bill Clinton's White House Chief of staff from 1994 to 1997.
Panetta was born on June 28, 1938 in Monterey, California to an Itallian-American family. He studied at Santa Clara University. He served in the army from 1964 until 1966. He had won an Army Commendation Medal for his services in the force. Panetta is married to Sylvia Panetta.