Meet Rachel Cuda

CIA Officer & Sexual Assault Survivor

Rachel Cuda made history as the first-ever CIA officer to approach Congress about the Agency’s treatment of sexual assault survivors. Leading generations of other survivors, she helped amplify their stories and became one of only two CIA officers to testify under oath in closed-door hearings. In just eleven months, her advocacy drove landmark legislation in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), mandating reforms like improved reporting, enhanced victim support, independent investigations and requiring the CIA to establish a dedicated office to address sexual misconduct more effectively. While journalistic standards dictate privacy for sexual assault victims, in an act of incredible bravery, Rachel came forward in 2024 publicly sharing her name and story with the world.

Rachel comes from a family with a long tradition of service, dating back to the American Revolution. As examples, her father served as a Navy SEAL officer and her younger sister is a West Point graduate and Army officer. Her husband of over a decade is also a former Navy SEAL officer, and Naval Academy graduate with a similarly long family tradition of service. Rachel’s commitment endures as a military contractor leading teams specializing in data analytics and artificial intelligence. From elementary school classrooms to corporate boardrooms to secretive congressional sessions, Rachel Cuda speaks with unflinching candor and infectious energy, masterfully tailoring messages and lessons from her extraordinary life and groundbreaking advocacy.