Gen. Michael V. Hayden, retired U.S. Air Force four-star general and former director of the Central Intelligence Agency (C.I.A.) and National Security Agency (NSA), will deliver a public talk on Thursday, April 6, 4:30 p.m. at Princeton University. A book sale will follow the talk.

As director of the C.I.A. from 2006 to 2009, Gen. Hayden was responsible for overseeing the collection of information concerning the plans, intentions and capabilities of America’s adversaries; producing timely analysis for decision-makers; and conducting covert operations to thwart terrorists and other enemies of the United States.

Before becoming C.I.A. director, Hayden served as the country’s first principal deputy director of national intelligence (2005-2006) and was the highest-ranking intelligence officer in the armed forces. Previously, he served as commander of the Air Intelligence Agency, director of the Joint Command and Control Warfare Center, director of the NSA (1999-2005) and chief of the Central Security Service.

Hayden currently serves as a principal for The Chertoff Group. There, he uses his broad geographic and political knowledge to brief clients on intelligence matters worldwide —  including developments in cybersecurity — that may affect their businesses.

Hayden graduated from Duquesne University with a bachelor’s degree in history in 1967 and a master’s degree in modern American history in 1969. He performed postgraduate work at the Defense Intelligence School conducted by the Defense Intelligence Agency. Hayden is the author of “Playing to the Edge: American Intelligence in the Age of Terror.” He is currently a distinguished visiting professor at George Mason University and chairman of the board of Delta Risk, LLC.

Hayden is visiting the Woodrow Wilson School as this year’s Gilbert S. Omenn ’61 Lecturer in Science Policy.