Karen Gibson: Kumquat on a Rugged Upbringing, War Stories, and Tolkien’s Chick with the Sword pt. 1

On this very special season of Iron Butterfly Podcast, we’re going inside our first documentary feature film, titled The Power We Hold: Stories from Women Spies. This film features 10 of the most powerful women you’ve never heard of, and this season, we’ll get up close and personal with each of them. Each month, we’ll highlight a different woman, with each episode presented in two parts.

In this episode, we sit down with Karen Gibson, a retired United States Army Lieutenant General whose distinguished 33-year career spanned some of the most complex and high-stakes intelligence environments in the world. She held a wide range of joint and operational intelligence roles, ultimately rising to serve as Director of Intelligence (J2) at U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Her leadership extended beyond intelligence by later serving in the unique and highly visible role of Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate.

She shares an inside look at the defining moments of her career, offering insight into the challenges of military leadership, intelligence operations, and navigating global conflict zones. At the heart of her story is a deeply personal journey—one that began in rural Montana, where she first imagined a life filled with purpose and adventure. From those early aspirations to the highest levels of military leadership, she reflects on the determination, resilience, and curiosity that shaped her path.

Follow us on social media to catch us on the road this year as we travel to film festivals across the world. We might be coming to a city near you!

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