Fiona Candlish is a retired intelligence professional with a distinguished 35-year career at the Central Intelligence Agency, culminating as Associate Deputy Director of CIA for Operations. Her senior leadership roles included Chief of Intelligence for Counterterrorism, Near East and South Asia, and Cyber Operations, as well as Director for Covert Action and Acting Senior Director for Intelligence Programs on the National Security Council Staff. She was recognized with multiple honors, including the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, the Donovan Award for Excellence, the Frank Archibald Award for Mentoring, and two National Intelligence Awards.
Following her retirement, Fiona has remained committed to community service and mentorship, previously serving on the boards of the CIA Retirees Association and Step Up Suncoast, and mentoring students through the Take Stock in Children program for the past five years. She values Children’s Guardian Fund’s tangible impact on vulnerable children and is honored to help further its mission of giving them the resources and confidence to succeed.
Fiona holds a B.A. in History from the University of Denver and is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy. She lives in Lakewood Ranch with her husband and enjoys time with their three daughters and four grandchildren. She joined the Children’s Guardian Fund Board in January 2025.