President Trump Announces the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board

TLDR

This executive order appoints 12 individuals to the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB), including former Trump administration officials, business leaders, and intelligence professionals. While some appointees have direct intelligence experience (like former CIA officer Fox Kennedy and former National Security Advisor O’Brien), many selections appear to prioritize political loyalty over intelligence expertise, including Trump Media executives, former RNC officials, and Trump campaign allies.

The President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB) is meant to provide independent, objective advice on intelligence matters, but the composition of this board suggests a stronger emphasis on political loyalty than intelligence expertise.

Appointees

Devin Nunes (Chair)

• Former Chairman of House Intelligence Committee (2015-2019)
• Currently serves as CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group
• Represented California’s 22nd congressional district from 2003-2022
• Known for his strong support of Trump during first impeachment inquiry

Scott Glabe

• Currently serves as General Counsel at Trump Media & Technology Group
• Acting Under Secretary for Policy at Department of Homeland Security
• Previous experience includes Associate Counsel to the President and Staff Director of House Intelligence Committee
• Yale Law School graduate with expertise in defense and intelligence matters

Amaryllis Fox Kennedy

• Former CIA officer and author of “Life Undercover”
• Recently considered for CIA deputy director position but was not selected
• Married to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s son
• Has faced controversy over publishing her CIA memoir without proper review clearance

Brad Wenstrup

• Retiring Congressman from Ohio’s 2nd district
• Colonel in U.S. Army Reserve and Iraq War veteran
• Served on House Intelligence Committee and Ways & Means Committee
• Chairs Select Subcommittee on Coronavirus Pandemic

Wayne Berman

• Global Head of Government Affairs at Blackstone
• Former Assistant Secretary of Commerce under George H.W. Bush
• Extensive experience in nine presidential campaigns
• Expertise in managing political and legislative risk

Reince Priebus

• Former White House Chief of Staff (2017)
• Longest-serving RNC Chairman in modern history
• Currently President of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
• Naval officer and attorney

Robert O’Brien

• Former National Security Advisor (2019-2021)
• Co-founder and chairman of American Global Strategies LLC
• Orchestrated Abraham Accords in Middle East during tenure
• Previously served as Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs

Joshua Lobel

• Founder of Centerline Capital Management and Archer Capital Management8
• Board member of CIA Officers Memorial Foundation8
• Extensive experience in finance and technology sectors53
• MBA from Wharton School

Sander R. Gerber

• CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Hudson Bay Capital Management, managing over $10 billion in assets
• Distinguished Fellow at JINSA’s Gemunder Center for Defense & Strategy
• Championed the Taylor Force Act, a bipartisan anti-terrorism bill that cuts US funding to the Palestinian Authority
• Previously served on AIPAC’s National Board of Directors from 2004-2016
• Developed the Gerber Statistic for measuring financial asset co-movement
• Graduate of University of Pennsylvania with degrees in Finance and Humanistic Philosophy

Katie Miller

• Former communications director for Vice President Mike Pence (2020-2021)
• Previously served as press secretary for DHS and deputy press secretary at Department of Homeland Security (2017-2019)
• Recently appointed to Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in December 2024
• Wife of Stephen Miller, Trump’s designated homeland security adviser
• Graduate of University of Florida and earned MPP from George Washington University

Jeremy Katz

• President and COO of D1 Capital Partners
• Former Deputy Director of National Economic Council under Trump
• Previously served in George W. Bush administration as Special Assistant to the President
• Former member of President’s Intelligence Advisory Board
• Graduate of University of Pennsylvania and Stanford Business School

Thomas Ollis Hicks Jr.

• Founder and CEO of 90 Degree North Holdings LLC
• Former co-chair of the Republican National Committee
• Son of prominent businessman Thomas O. Hicks Sr.
• Previously served as National Finance Co-Chairman for Trump’s presidential campaign
• Chairman of America First Policies
• Graduate of University of Texas at Austin

Qualified Appointees

Mostly Proven Intelligence Experience

• Amaryllis Fox Kennedy has direct CIA operational experience as an undercover officer from 2002-2010
• Scott Glabe brings significant national security expertise through his roles at DHS, White House counsel’s office, and House Intelligence Committee
• Robert O’Brien served as National Security Advisor (2019-2021) and has extensive national security experience

Mostly Relevant Oversight Experience

• Brad Wenstrup served on the House Intelligence Committee and has military intelligence background as an Army Reserve officer
• Devin Nunes previously chaired the House Intelligence Committee (2015-2019)

Very Questionable Appointments

Limited Intelligence Background

• Reince Priebus’s experience is primarily political as former RNC chairman and White House Chief of Staff
• Thomas Ollis Hicks Jr.'s background is mainly in business and political fundraising
• Katie Miller’s experience is primarily in communications and press relations
• Wayne Berman’s expertise is in government relations and business

Potential Concerns

The board’s effectiveness may be compromised by:

• Several appointees having stronger political ties than intelligence expertise
• Controversy surrounding some members, such as Fox Kennedy’s unauthorized publication of CIA memoir
• Heavy representation of individuals closely aligned with Trump’s previous administration rather than independent experts