Cold War Veterans Blog

Secretary of Defense and Author of "From the Shadows: The Ultimate Insiders Story of Five Presidents and How They Won the Cold War." to Speak at IU

Robert Gates to speak at Winter Commencement

IDS Reports
Nov. 1, 2009


Robert M. Gates, the 22nd and current Secretary of Defense of the United States, will speak at IU’s Winter Commencement and receive an honorary Ph.D.

Gates has served in the office since December 18, 2006, and is the first Secretary of Defense to retain his position for two different presidencies.

Gates, originally from Kansas, received his bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary, his master’s degree from Indiana and his doctorate from Georgetown University.

While at IU, Gates was recruited by the CIA. He worked as a public servant there for the CIA for 27 years. He was on the National Security Council for nine years where he served presidents from both political parties. He served as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence from 1991 to 1993. He is the only career officer in the history of the CIA to rise from entry-level employee to Director.

Secretary Gates was awarded the National Security Medal, the Presidential Citizens Medal, the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal twice, and the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the CIA's highest award, three times.

In 1996, he published his memoir "From the Shadows: The Ultimate Insiders Story of Five Presidents and How They Won the Cold War."

Gates also served as Chairman of the Independent Trustees of The Fidelity Funds and on the board of directors of NACCO Industries, Inc., Brinker International, Inc. and Parker Drilling Company, Inc.

Gates has also was 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.

Winter Commencement will be Dec. 19 at Assembly Hall.