John Kiriakou

Kiriakou's achievements are rooted in his courage to speak truth to power. He was the first CIA officer to publicly confirm the agency's use of waterboarding, a revelation that sparked national debate on torture. Despite facing prosecution and imprisonment under the Espionage Act, he continued to advocate for transparency and accountability. His awards, including the PEN First Amendment Award and the Sam Adams Award, recognize his sacrifice for civil liberties. He is also a recipient of the Ridenhour Prize for Truth-Telling, cementing his place among the most consequential whistleblowers of the post-9/11 era.