The Agudath Israel Midwest Regional office is pleased to announce that Mr. Gary Berntsen will be speaking at its annual dinner on Tuesday, September 9 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago, Illinois.

Mr. Berntsen is a decorated former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) career officer who served in the Directorate of Operations between October 1982 and June 2005. During his time at the CIA, he was awarded the Distinguished Intelligence Medal and the Intelligence Star.  In December 2001, he was the CIA’s key field commander for the agency’s Jawbreaker team at Tora Bora, leading the hunt for Osama bin Laden.  For three years, as part of his commitment to combating global terrorism, Mr. Berntsen led the CIA’s efforts against Hizbullah in Lebanon.

Mr. Berntsen has authored two books, the first entitled Jawbreaker, detailing his experiences in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban.  Human Intelligence, Counterterrorism, and National Leadership: A Practical Guide, his third book, is set to come out next month.

Rabbi Dovid Schnell, President of Agudath Israel of Illinois noted, “Gary Berntsen has been on the front lines fighting against terror for over twenty years.   We are honored to welcome him at our annual dinner this Tuesday.”

For more information or to attend the dinner, please contact the Chicago office at (847) 674-4000.

(YWN Desk – NYC)