Elizabeth "Liz" Sherman is a 1991 graduate of Texas A&M University and has worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) for the past 25 years. Liz was hired by CIA in 1999 to serve as an imagery intelligence analyst covering regional and counterterrorism issues, mostly in the Africa and Latin America regions. Earlier in her career, she worked as a newspaper reporter covering national security issues, including the 24th Infantry Division's response to the "Blackhawk Down" incident in Somalia in 1993.
Liz also served as the Program Mission Manager for Africa while on a joint-duty assignment at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), where she was responsible for enabling the best collection and reporting over the continent. By working closely across the Intelligence Community, she authored the Unifying Intelligence Strategy for Africa and received the ODNI Integration Award in 2014. She has also led units covering topics such as Russia and intelligence production processes.
In addition to traveling extensively in Africa and Latin America, Liz deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq, in 2009 to manage the GEOINT personnel supporting the US and allied operations. Liz was also the lead for all NGA support to the CIA from 2018-2020, where she routinely met with senior CIA leaders and represented NGA equities and capabilities in support of CIA mission needs. Moreover, Liz has authored hundreds of intelligence reports during her tenure. Most recently, she served as the Chief of Staff for NGA's third in command, managing the front office staff in 2022, and her final assignment was as the National GEOINT Officer for Africa, coordinating NGA activities against the Africa mission set.
Liz graduated from the National War College in Washington, D.C., in 2021 with a Master's Degree in National Security Policy Studies. She also received a Master's Degree from George Mason University in 2004 in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on cultural communications. Additionally, Liz has attended and graduated from numerous national security development courses during her time at CIA/NGA on areas ranging from Army Aviation to special operations orientations.
Liz was the recipient of the Outstanding DoD Civilian Service Award in 2002. She was also named NGA's Woman of the Year in 2009. She was the lead for the Federal Women's Program Council for NGA, where she was named a Women and Allies of Influence Award winner in 2022 and 2023 for promoting and highlighting opportunities to advance women at NGA.
Liz is married and has two grown children, Bradley and Savannah, both of whom are working in public service as a prosecutor and social worker, respectively.
