John S. Warner

John S. Warner was the first Legislative Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency and the 2nd General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and one of the architects of intelligence law in the United States of America. Warner, working alongside Larry Houston, helped draft much of the founding documents of the CIA. These laws granted the Agency financial and operational flexibility, particularly through the use of unvouchered funds.

When the United States Air Force was created in 1947, Warner became a charter member, and held a position in the Air Force Reserve Command until 1979. He also dealt with legal challenges related to maintaining secrecy while ensuring the Agency operated within the law. His career spanned major historical events, including the Cold War and the Watergate scandal, which significantly affected public perception and governmental oversight of the CIA.