Kevin Shaeffer Talk

About this event

Come listen to a talk from Kevin Shaeffer, a 9/11 survivor from the Pentagon attacks, Member of the 9/11 Commision, CIA counterterrorisom, and served as a member of the small team of dedicated targeting officers and analysts on the CIA’s “High Value Target 1” (HVT-1) team that found Osama bin Laden.

Kevin Shaeffer is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1994. As a Navy lieutenant, he was working in the Navy Command Center on the first floor of the Pentagon’s “C-ring” when the September 11 attacks occurred.

When American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, it passed through his office space, destroying everything in its path and taking the lives of many fellow coworkers.

Miraculously, Kevin survived the initial explosion. While severely burned over nearly 50 percent of his body, he managed to escape to relative safety. He then waged a grueling struggle to survive at the Washington Hospital Center’s Burn Unit and was ultimately medically retired from military service.

Kevin fought hard to heal from his injuries, to personally contribute to learning the lessons of 9/11, and to help bring those responsible for the attacks to justice.

After a full recovery, he was selected to serve as one of 26 professional staff members on the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, also known as the 9/11 Commission. Established by Congress and the President, the Commission was directed to examine the facts and circumstances of the attacks, identify lessons learned, and provide recommendations to safeguard against future acts of terrorism.

Following the 9/11 Commission, Kevin was determined to get back into the arena and sought service at the Central Intelligence Agency. In short order, he was contributing in critical roles on our nation’s highest-priority counterproliferation and counterterrorism mission areas.

Kevin served as a member of the small team of dedicated targeting officers and analysts on the CIA’s “High Value Target 1” (HVT-1) team that found Usama bin Laden.

Kevin’s story conveys a powerful message of service, resilience, and determination. In 2024, he publicly shared the full arc of his life story for the first time. Today, he is dedicated to inspiring and positively impacting the lives and careers of select audiences.