Jack G. Downing
Encyclopedia
Jack G. Downing was Deputy Director for Operations (DDO) for the Central Intelligence Agency
from 1997 until July 1999.
Jack Downing graduated from Harvard University
, majoring in Chinese language
and history, as well as Asian studies. He served two combat tours in Vietnam
as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining the CIA in 1967. Downing was appointed Station chief in both Moscow and Beijing, and as Chief of the Directorate of Operations
East Asia Division. He retired in 1995, but returned two years later when he was asked by then-Director of Central Intelligence
George Tenet
to head the DO.
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
from 1997 until July 1999.
Jack Downing graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, majoring in Chinese language
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
and history, as well as Asian studies. He served two combat tours in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining the CIA in 1967. Downing was appointed Station chief in both Moscow and Beijing, and as Chief of the Directorate of Operations
National Clandestine Service
The National Clandestine Service is one of the four main components of the Central Intelligence Agency...
East Asia Division. He retired in 1995, but returned two years later when he was asked by then-Director of Central Intelligence
Director of Central Intelligence
The Office of United States Director of Central Intelligence was the head of the United States Central Intelligence Agency, the principal intelligence advisor to the President and the National Security Council, and the coordinator of intelligence activities among and between the various United...
George Tenet
George Tenet
George John Tenet was the Director of Central Intelligence for the United States Central Intelligence Agency, and is Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown University....
to head the DO.