What's the first thing General Petraeus changed when he got to the CIA? | Forensic Files

well I was very conscious that I might be seen as an outsider I'd had 37 years in uniform I deliberately decided to
take the uniform off before joining the organization I arrived with no one from my old uh days uh in fact I arrived
alone just other than the security uh guards and security Force so I think that sent an important message to them I
asked to be you know referred to as director or W rather than General you actually don't walk across
the seal when you uh arrive every day as the Director of the Central Intelligence
Agency you're actually in an underground parking lot which has a special elevator
which goes up to the the floor in which the director's office is located one of the early decisions that I made was that
we were going to move the swearing in ceremony for the new officers from this very very large cavernous Auditorium
called the bubble to an event uh where we closed off that front entrance had the seal there and more importantly had
the wall of stars and they actually sat facing the wall of stars each star represents an officer who has fallen uh
in service and it's one of the very few days where their families were allowed into the agency that was a big deal in
my mind I think there was a lot of symbolism and that front hallway is extraordinary as is the hallway where
you walk walk past all the director's portraits and so on there is a sense of history there and indeed there's a
continual effort to increase uh the recognition of that history by what you see as an officer walking through the
the corridors of that great organization

General David Petraeus describes how he transitioned from the military and his post leading troops in Iraq to director of America's spy agency, the CIA. For more, watch "48 Hours Presents: The Spymasters - CIA in the Crosshairs" Saturday, May 21, 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Brief Summary

The episode discusses the CIA's culture and honoring fallen officers during swearing-in ceremonies.

Key points

A New Beginning. Transitioning from military to CIA, the speaker emphasizes the importance of symbolism in their arrival.
Honoring Fallen Officers. The swearing-in ceremony was moved to honor fallen officers, symbolizing respect and remembrance.

Episode highlights

Honoring Fallen OfficersThe swearing-in ceremony was moved to honor fallen officers, symbolizing respect and remembrance.“Each star represents an officer who has fallen in service.”1:13May 17, 2016

Episode quotes

I arrived alone, just other than the security guards.

Reflecting on the transition to a new role.

0:15WatchMay 17, 2016

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