Members of the nation’s intelligence community made no secret of their appreciation for Schar School of Policy and Government Distinguished Visiting Professor Michael V. Hayden Wednesday night at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of current and former officials packed the museum’s ballroom and rooftop to see Hayden, the retired Air Force general and former director of the CIA and National Security Agency, receive the Honorable William H. Webster Distinguished Service Award for his work serving U.S. intelligence with integrity and distinction.
CNN’s Wolf Blitzer was the emcee for the evening, which saw tributes to Hayden delivered by former CIA and FBI director Judge Webster, the award’s namesake, retired Ambassador John D. Negroponte, and former CIA director George Tenet, who made a point to acknowledge Hayden’s wife Jeanine and her participation in Hayden’s 41-year career.
Hayden, who founded the Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security at the Schar School, suffered a stroke last November but nonetheless made his second brief public speaking appearance in accepting the praise and the award.
“This is amazing and I thank you,” he said. “It’s nice to be back among friends.”