Robert M. Gates
AMERICA'S NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES--ABROAD AND AT HOME
On June 30th, Secretary Gates retired after serving four and a half years as Secretary of Defense under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, a tenure that included two U.S. wars, military involvement in Libya, the repeal of "Don't Ask" Don't Tell" and the killing of Osama bin Laden. In total, Dr. Gates has served eight presidents in a number of leadership roles, including Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and Deputy National Security Adviser.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Robert M. Gates was sworn in on December 18, 2006, as the 22nd Secretary of Defense.
Before being named Secretary of Defense, Gates was the President of Texas A&M University, the nation's seventh largest university. Prior to assuming the Texas A&M presidency, he served as Interim Dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M from 1999 to 2001.
Gates joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1966 and spent nearly 27 years as an intelligence professional. During that period, he spent nearly nine years at the National Security Council, The White House, serving four presidents of both political parties.
Gates served as Director of Central Intelligence from 1991 until 1993. He is the only career officer in CIA's history to rise from entry-level employee to Director. He served as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence from 1986 until 1989 and as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Adviser at the White House from January 20, 1989 until November 6, 1991 for President George H.W. Bush.
Gates has been awarded the National Security Medal, the Presidential Citizens Medal, has twice received the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, and has three times received CIA's highest award, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal. On his last day in office, President Barack Obama awarded Dr. Gates the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor.
He is the author of the memoir, From the Shadows: The Ultimate Insiders Story of Five Presidents and How They Won the Cold War, published in 1996.
Until becoming Secretary of Defense, Dr. Gates served as Chairman of the Independent Trustees of The Fidelity Funds, the nation's largest mutual fund company, and on the board of directors of NACCO Industries, Inc., Brinker International, Inc. and Parker Drilling Company, Inc.
Gates has also served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the American Council on Education, the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, and the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America. He has also been President of the National Eagle Scout Association.
A native of Kansas, Secretary Gates received his bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary, his master's degree in history from Indiana University, and his doctorate in Russian and Soviet history from Georgetown University.
In 1967 he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and served as an intelligence officer at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
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