Christopher P. Costa

Christopher P. Costa (born 1962) is a retired US Army intelligence officer with 34 years of service, culminating in his role as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council, White House. He is now the executive director of the International Spy Museum.

Background Costa was 10 years old when the Munich massacre at the 1972 Olympics happened. He identified that moment as partly inspiring his decision to go into intelligence, special operations, and counterterrorism work. Costa grew up in Natick, Massachusetts and graduated from Natick High School in 1980; he was inducted into Natick High School's Wall of Achievement in 2005.

In 1984, Costa graduated with B.A. in Criminal Justice from Norwich University.

In 2002, he earned an M.A. in Strategic Intelligence from American Military University, and in 2006 he earned an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

From May 2009 until December 2015, Costa was with the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, where he was the first civilian squadron deputy director.

Costa has been the director of the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC since 2018.

He is currently an adjunct associate professor at the Security Studies Program & Center for Security Studies, Edward A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University. and is on the board of directors for the Foley Foundation.

Awards and honors In May 2013, Costa was inducted into the United States Special Operations Command's (USSOCOM) Commando Hall of Honor. He has two Bronze Stars for human intelligence work in Afghanistan, as well as the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. In 2024, he was awarded the James W. Foley American Hostage Freedom Award.