Gates, Robert Michael, 1943-

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Dr. Robert M. Gates served as U.S. Secretary of Defense from December 2006 to July 2011.

Dr. Gates was the only Secretary of Defense in U.S. history to be asked to remain in that office by a newly elected President. President Barack Obama was the eighth president Dr. Gates served.

Before becoming the Secretary of Defense, Dr. Gates was the President of Texas A & M University, the nation's seventh largest university. Prior to assuming the Texas A & M presidency, on August 1, 2002, he served as Interim Dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M from 1999 to 2001.

Secretary 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.

Dr. 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.

Secretary 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.

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.

Dr. 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.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. IGY SCIENTIFIC STATION FOR ICE ISLAND National Archives at College Park
referencedIn White House Office of Appointments and Scheduling Files. 1989 - 1993. Presidential Daily Diary and Presidential Daily Backup Materials. 1/20/1989 - 1/20/1993. President's Daily Diary Entry, January 26, 1991 George Bush Library
referencedIn United States. White House Office of Appointments and Scheduling. President's Daily Diary Entry, January 19, 1991 George Bush Library
creatorOf Robert M. Gates Papers William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn White House Office of Appointments and Scheduling Files. 1989 - 1993. Presidential Daily Diary and Presidential Daily Backup Materials. 1/20/1989 - 1/20/1993. President's Daily Diary Entry, January 21, 1991 George Bush Library
referencedIn United States. White House Office of Appointments and Scheduling. President's Daily Diary Entry, February 16, 1991 George Bush Library
referencedIn United States. White House Office of Appointments and Scheduling. President's Daily Diary Entry, January 24, 1991 George Bush Library
referencedIn White House Office of Appointments and Scheduling Files. 1989 - 1993. Presidential Daily Diary and Presidential Daily Backup Materials. 1/20/1989 - 1/20/1993. President's Daily Diary Entry, February 27, 1991 George Bush Library
referencedIn White House Office of Appointments and Scheduling Files. 1989 - 1993. Presidential Daily Diary and Presidential Daily Backup Materials. 1/20/1989 - 1/20/1993. President's Daily Diary Entry, February 17, 1991 George Bush Library
referencedIn United States. White House Office of Appointments and Scheduling. President's Daily Diary Entry, January 22, 1991 George Bush Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. 1921 - 2008. Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files National Archives at College Park
referencedIn United States. White House Office of Appointments and Scheduling. President's Daily Diary Entry, January 16, 1990 George Bush Library
referencedIn Records of the White House Photograph Office. 1/20/1989 - 1/20/1993. George H. W. Bush Presidential Photographs. 1/20/1989 - 1/20/1993. President Bush meets with Secretary Dick Cheney, General Colin Powell, General Scowcroft, Governor Sununu and Robert Gates in the Oval Office George Bush Library
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. PROJECT ICE SKATE, FLETCHER'S ICE ISLAND National Archives at College Park
referencedIn White House Office of Appointments and Scheduling Files. 1989 - 1993. Presidential Daily Diary and Presidential Daily Backup Materials. 1/20/1989 - 1/20/1993. President's Daily Diary Entry, January 25, 1991 George Bush Library
referencedIn United States. White House Office of Appointments and Scheduling. President's Daily Diary Entry, February 3, 1991 George Bush Library
referencedIn United States. White House Photograph Office. President Bush meets with General Colin Powell, General Scowcroft, Secretary James Baker, Vice President Quayle, Secretary Dick Cheney, Governor Sununu and Robert Gates about the situation in the Persian Gulf and Operation Desert Shield, 1/15/1991 George Bush Library
creatorOf Karl F. Inderfurth's and Robert M. Gates' Chronological Files, 1977 - 1981 Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn General Subject Files, 1974 - 1992 Gerald R. Ford Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
leaderOf Boy Scouts of America corporateBody
leaderOf College of William and Mary. corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Georgetown University. corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Indiana University corporateBody
leaderOf Texas A & M University corporateBody
leaderOf United States. Central Intelligence Agency corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Wichita KS US
Subject
Occupation
Cabinet officers
Deans (Education)
University presidents
Activity

Person

Birth 1943-09-25

Male

Americans

English

Information

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