FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 27, 2007

VICE ADM. ALBERT “BERT” M. CALLAND III, NATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER’S DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR STRATEGIC OPERATIONAL PLANNING, TO RETIRE

National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) Director retired Vice Adm. John “Scott” Redd today announced that Vice Adm. Albert M. “Bert” Calland III, Deputy Director for Strategic Operational Planning, will retire on July 1, 2007, culminating a distinguished naval career spanning more than 33 years. Calland served in this key position since Sept. 2006, and was principally responsible for the U.S. government’s strategic operational planning effort to combat terrorism by integrating all elements of national power across multiple departments and agencies.

“In every position Bert’s served, -- a SEAL team leader in the Arabian Gulf, a combat leader in Afghanistan, the CIA’s Deputy Director, and finally, as my deputy for strategic operational planning – his contributions to our nation’s security have had an enormous and enduring significance,” said Redd. “Bert’s strong leadership, unquestionable integrity, and total dedication to the mission and those with whom he served, exemplify the highest qualities of naval service. I am honored and blessed to call him ‘shipmate.’”

In June 2006, President Bush approved the National Implementation Plan for the War on Terror. As the NCTC’s Deputy Director for Strategic Operational Planning, Calland’s responsibilities encompassed the planning and integration of existing U.S. government counterterrorism activities, developing a common strategic direction for future operations and an assessment of their effectiveness.

“As an experienced operator whose career focused on counterterrorism activities and special operations missions, Bert’s credentials for this important national planning effort were impeccable,” Redd said.

Throughout his career, Calland commanded Naval Special Warfare units and Special Operations Forces at all levels, beginning as platoon commander of a SEAL Delivery Vehicle and culminating as Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command from August 2002 until March 2004, responsible for all Navy SEALS and Combatant Craft Crewmen.

In July 2000, Calland assumed command of Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT). Immediately following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the U. S., he transitioned his headquarters’ war fighting functions to the forward-deployed Joint Forces Special Operations Component Command, directing more than 3,000 U.S. and Coalition Special Operations Forces in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.

As commander of all special operations forces for U.S. Central Command, during this operation, Calland was the first U.S. military flag officer to set foot in Afghanistan.

In March 2004 he received his third star and was assigned to the CIA as Associate Director of Central Intelligence for Military Support. In July 2005, Calland was appointed Deputy Director, Central Intelligence Agency, the number two position in the CIA, where he was responsible for CIA operations and activities around the world.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Calland moved to Zanesville, Ohio where he graduated from Zanesville High School. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1970 and graduated in 1974 with a B.S. degree in Oceanography. He received a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy in 1996 from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C.

“On behalf of his many intelligence community colleagues and shipmates around the globe, I want to thank Bert, Cindy and his entire family for their many sacrifices,” Redd said. “As he embarks on this next chapter of his life, we all wish him ‘fair winds and following seas.’”