ROBERT M. GATES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-01448R000301320007-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 27, 2012
• Sequence Number: 7
• Content Type: BIO

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/27: CIA-RDP99-014488000301320007-3
Robert Gates, a native of Kansas, received his B.A. degree
from the College of William and Mary (1965); his Master's in
History from Indiana University (1966); and his Doctorate in
Russian and Soviet History from Georgetown University (1974).
In 1966 Dr. Gates began his Government career in the Central
Intelligence Agency's Career Training Program. He subsequently
served as a II.S. Air Force intelligence officer assigned to the
Minuteman Missile Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo.
In 1969 Dr. Gates rejoined. CZA as a civilian current
intelligence analyst in the Office of Current Intelligence
responsible for analysis, writing articles and giving
intelligence briefings on Soviet policies and tactics toward the
Middle East, Africa, and subsequently the United States.
In 1972, drawing on his background in Soviet affairs, Dr.
Gates was assigned to the staff of the Special Assistant to the
Director of Central Intelligence for Strategic Arms Limitations
(SALT). During this period, he was detailed to the Department of
State to serve as an intelligence adviser to the IIS SALT
delegation in. Vienna, Austria, and later in Geneva, Switzerland.
In late 1973 Dr. Gates was selected as one of two Assistant
National Intelligence Officers for Strategic Programs. In this
position, Dr. Gates participated in the ,preparation of key
National Intelligence Estimates and other intelligence community
analytical projects on foreign strategic weapons programs.
In 1974 Dr. Gates was assigned to President Nixon's National
Security Council Staff with analytical, policy and operational
responsibilities in the area of US relations with the USSR and
Europe. He continued in this assign-c.nt ;:ceder (resident Ford.
-His skill and contributions while at~the NSC were recognized in
personal commendations from President Ford and Assistant to the
President Brent Scowcroft.
In December 1976 Dr. Gates returned to CIA Headquarters to
-work in the Center for Policy Support. During the few months Dr.
Gates served in the Center, he developed and implemented a long-
term-, directorate-widA plan for research on the USSR, an approach
later adopted for use in planning research in other areas of CIA
regional analysis. Dr. Gates also undertook on behalf of CIA a
nationwide survey of private sector and academic work on the USSR
at US researzh centers. Through visits to many of these centers
on the Soviet IInion, he was able to prepare an authoritative
report on the extent to which academic cooperation with
intelligence analysts was possible and useful, and the limits of
such relationships.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/27: CIA-RDP99-014488000301320007-3
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After only four months in the Center for Policy Support, Dr.
Gates was asked to return to the National Security Council Staff
as a Special Assistant to Zbigniew Brzezinski, the Assistant to
the President for National Security Affairs. ?
Dr. Gates again return to CIA is 1979 to become Director of
the Strategic Evaluation Center, an analytical organization
responsible for assessing Soviet political-military affairs and
Soviet strategic capabilities and intentions. He was in this
position only three weeks when the Director of Central
.Intelligence appointed him as his Executive Assistant. In
November 1980, the Director of Central Intelligence acceded to
Dr. Gates' wish to return to analysis and appointed him as
National Intelligence Officer for the~Soviet IInion a.nd Eastern
Europe, where he served as senior adviser to the Director on
Soviet matters; coordinated intelligence community analysis of
the IISSR; and represented the Director in interagency forums
addressing policy issues relevant to the Soviet IInion. In
January 1981 Dr. Gates was awarded the Intelligence Medal of
Merit in recognition of his service to the NSC and the Director
of Central Intelligence.
In March 1981 the new Director of Central Intelligence,
i~Tilliam J. Casey, asked Dr. Gates to return to the Office of the
Director to become Director of the Executive Staff, with
responsibility for supervising both the Director's and Deputy
Director's offices and for supporting the CIA Executive
Committee; serving as the Director's liaison with other
departments; overseeing preparations for his participation in NSC
meetings and other interagency forums; and advising him on
analytical and estimative process and organiiation. In July 1981
the Director asked Dr. Gates to serve concurrently as Director of
the new Office of Policy and Planning... This appointment added to
his earlier responsibilities supervision of CIA's long-range
planning staff as well as Congressional relations and public
affairs. In November 1981 the Director asked Dr. Gates once
again to become National Intelligence Officer for the IISSR and
Eastern Europe, again concurrently with his other
responsibilities.
The DCI appointed Dr. Gates Deputy Director for Intelligence
on 4 January 1982. In this position, he directs the Central
Intelligence Agency's component responsible for all analysis and
production of finished intelligence. On 1 September 1983,
Director Casey asked Dr. Gates to serve concurrently as Chairman
of the National Intelligence Council. In this position Dr. Gates
directs the preparation of ,all National Intelligence Estimates
prepared by the Intelligence Community. He also administers the
Council, which includes the National Intelligence Officers and
associated Analytical Group.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/27: CIA-RDP99-014488000301320007-3
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The Washington, D.C., Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1978
named Dr. Gates a.s a recipient of the Arthur S. Flemming Award,
presented annually by the Chamber of Commerce to the 10 most
outstanding young men and women in the Federal .service. Dr.
Gates is married and has two children.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/27: CIA-RDP99-014488000301320007-3