Gina Haspel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gina Haspel
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Official portrait, 2017
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| 7th Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | |
| In office May 21, 2018 – January 20, 2021 (Acting: April 26, 2018 – May 21, 2018) |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Vaughn Bishop |
| Preceded by | Mike Pompeo |
| Succeeded by | Bill Burns |
| 6th Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | |
| In office February 2, 2017 – May 21, 2018 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | David Cohen |
| Succeeded by | Vaughn Bishop |
| Director of the National Clandestine Service | |
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Acting
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| In office February 28, 2013 – May 7, 2013 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | John Bennett |
| Succeeded by | Frank Archibald |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gina Cheri Walker
October 1, 1956 Ashland, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Jeff Haspel
(m. 1976; div. 1985) |
| Education | University of Kentucky University of Louisville (BA) Northeastern University (Cert) |
| Awards | Presidential Rank Award Donovan Award Intelligence Medal of Merit |
Gina Cheri Walker Haspel (born October 1, 1956) is an American intelligence officer. She served as the seventh Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). This important role lasted from May 21, 2018, to January 20, 2021.
Before becoming director, she was the CIA's Deputy Director from 2017 to 2018. She became the acting director on April 26, 2018. This happened after the previous director, Mike Pompeo, became the U.S. Secretary of State. Later, she was officially chosen and approved for the top job. This made her the first woman to lead the CIA permanently.
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Early Life and Education
Gina Cheri Walker was born on October 1, 1956. Her hometown is Ashland, Kentucky. Her father worked in the United States Air Force. She grew up with four brothers and sisters.
Haspel went to high school in the United Kingdom. She studied at the University of Kentucky for three years. Then, she moved to the University of Louisville for her last year. She graduated in May 1978 with a degree in languages and journalism.
From 1980 to 1981, she worked as a library coordinator. This job was at Fort Devens in Massachusetts. In 1982, she earned a special certificate from Northeastern University. This certificate was for paralegal studies. She worked as a paralegal until she joined the CIA.
Early Career at the CIA
Haspel started working for the CIA in January 1985. Her first job was as a reports officer. She worked in many secret roles overseas. Her first field job was in Ethiopia from 1987 to 1989. She also had assignments in Europe and Central Eurasia until 2001. From 1996 to 1998, Haspel was a station chief in Baku, Azerbaijan.
From 2001 to 2003, she was a Deputy Group Chief. This was in the Counterterrorism Center.
Involvement in Detention Programs
Between October and December 2002, Haspel oversaw a secret CIA site in Thailand. This site was called Detention Site GREEN. It was also known as Cat's Eye. This place held people suspected of being involved with Al-Qaeda. It was part of a U.S. government program. This program involved holding and questioning suspected terrorists after the September 11 attacks.
In 2005, Haspel was a chief of staff for a CIA director. She helped draft an order to destroy some videotapes. These tapes were from the secret site in Thailand. She later explained that the tapes were destroyed to protect the identities of CIA officers. Their faces were visible on the tapes.
In 2013, she became the acting director of the National Clandestine Service. This part of the CIA carries out secret operations. However, she was not made the permanent director. Some people had concerns about her involvement in the detention program.
Becoming Deputy Director
On February 2, 2017, President Trump chose Haspel as the Deputy Director of the CIA. This position does not need approval from the Senate.
Director of the CIA
Nomination and Approval
On March 13, 2018, President Donald Trump announced his choice. He would nominate Gina Haspel to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. She would replace Mike Pompeo. Pompeo was moving to become the new Secretary of State. Once approved, Haspel would be the first woman to be the permanent Director of the CIA.
Many former U.S. government officials supported her nomination. This included six former CIA Directors. However, some groups and retired military leaders had concerns. They worried about her past involvement in the CIA's detention program.
On May 9, 2018, Haspel spoke to the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. This was part of her approval hearing. On May 14, she sent a letter to Senator Mark Warner. She stated that, looking back, the CIA should not have run its interrogation program.
The Senate Intelligence Committee approved her nomination on May 16. The vote was 10–5. The next day, the full Senate confirmed her. The vote was 54–45.
Time as Director
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Haspel officially started her role on May 21, 2018. She made history as the first woman to lead the CIA permanently.
In January 2019, Haspel spoke to the Senate Intelligence Committee. She said the CIA was happy with the U.S. expelling Russian diplomats. This happened after the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal. She also spoke about relations with North Korea. She believed North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, wanted a better future for his people.
By May 2019, Haspel had hired many women for senior positions.
In December 2020, false rumors about her death spread online. Several fact-checking groups proved these claims were untrue. The CIA announced her retirement on January 19, 2021. She had served for 36 years. William J. Burns was chosen to take her place. He became the new director on March 19, 2021.
After leaving the CIA, Haspel began advising a law firm. This started in July 2021.
Awards and Recognition
Haspel has received several important awards. These include:
- The George H. W. Bush Award for excellence in counterterrorism
- The Donovan Award
- The Intelligence Medal of Merit
- The Presidential Rank Award
Personal Life
Gina Haspel married Jeff Haspel around 1976. He served in the United States Army. They divorced in 1985. She owned a home in Ashburn, Virginia, from 2001 to 2018.
See also
In Spanish: Gina Haspel para niños
