{{Short description|American intelligence officer}} {{for|persons of a similar name|Susan Gordon (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Sue Gordon | image = Susan M. Gordon official photo.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2017 | office = 5th Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence | president = Donald Trump | 1blankname = Director | 1namedata = Dan Coats | term_start = August 7, 2017 | term_end = August 15, 2019 | predecessor = Stephanie O'Sullivan ''(as Principal Deputy Director)'' | successor = Andrew P. Hallman ''(as Acting Principal Executive)'' | office1 = Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency | president1 = Barack Obama<br/>Donald Trump | term_start1 = January 1, 2015 | term_end1 = August 9, 2017 | predecessor1 = Michael Rodrigue | successor1 = Justin Poole | birth_date = | birth_place = Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | education = Duke University (BS) | website = {{URL|https://www.gordonventuresllc.com/}} }} '''Susan M. Gordon''' served as Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence from August 7, 2017, until August 15, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dni.gov/index.php/who-we-are/leadership/principal-deputy-dni|title=Principal Deputy DNI|website=www.dni.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/top-intelligence-official-sue-gordon-leaving-trump-administration/|title=Top intelligence official Sue Gordon leaving her post same day as boss|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=8 August 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-20}}</ref> Prior to assuming that role, she was the Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), having assumed the position on January 1, 2015.<ref name="NGABIO">{{cite news |url=https://www.nga.mil/About/Leadership/Pages/Deputy-Director.aspx |publisher=National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency |title=Sue Gordon, Deputy Director |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518043326/https://www.nga.mil/About/Leadership/Pages/Deputy-Director.aspx |archive-date=May 18, 2017}}</ref> Before joining the NGA, she served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency's Information Operations Center and senior cyber adviser to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hoffman|first1=Mary-Louise|title=NGA Deputy Director Susan Gordon Nominated to Fill ODNI No. 2 Post |url=http://www.executivegov.com/2017/06/nga-deputy-director-susan-gordon-nominated-to-fill-odni-no-2-post/|access-date=9 August 2017 |publisher=ExecutiveGov |date=June 30, 2017}}</ref> Gordon worked for the CIA for more than 25 years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chappellet-Lanier |first1=Tajha |title=Sue Gordon nominated to be principal deputy director of national intelligence|url=https://www.fedscoop.com/susan-gordon-named-principal-deputy-director-national-intelligence/|access-date=9 August 2017 |publisher=FedScoop|date=June 29, 2017}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Gordon obtained a B.S. from Duke University in 1980, majoring in zoology.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GUBSXIjwNE |title=Duke University Alumni: Sue Gordon '80 |author=Duke University |author-link=Duke University |publisher=YouTube |date=October 31, 2014 |access-date=May 18, 2017 |quote=Sue Gordon '80, director of the CIA's Senior Advisor for Cyber and director of Information Operations, says that majoring in zoology at Duke University was the perfect choice for preparing for a career at the CIA. Interview by Christina Holder. Video by Christina Holder and Morgan Capps.}}</ref> While at Duke, she was a power forward and the only three-year captain for the Duke Blue Devils women's basketball team in its history.<ref name="NBC">{{cite news |url=https://goduke.com/news/2015/10/28/210455310.aspx |publisher=Duke University |first=Ryan |last=Neu |title=From the Hardwood to the CIA, Gordon a Leader |date=October 28, 2015}}</ref>
== Career == Gordon joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1980 where she worked as an analyst in the office of Scientific and Weapons Research Directorate of Intelligence.<ref name="NGABIO" /><ref name="WelnaNPR2020"/> She later moved to the agency's Directorate of Science & Technology, as well as the first director of the office of Advanced Analytic Tools (AAT), serving in that capacity from July 1996 to October 2000.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=klfcHZ9QCvcC&q=%22Susan+gordon%22&pg=PT218 |quote=Director, Office of Advanced Analytical Tools (AAT): Susan Gordon: July 18, 1996 - October 2000 |title=The Wizards Of Langley: Inside The CIA's Directorate Of Science And Technology |isbn=9780786742660 |first=Jeffrey T. |last=Richelson |year=2008 |publisher=Basic Books}}</ref><ref name="NGABIO" /><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Jay |last=Finegan |magazine=CIO |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3AoAAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Office+of+Advanced+Analytic+Tools%22+%22Gordon%22&pg=PA48 |title=License to Know |year=1998 |pages=48–49}}</ref> Gordon was later Deputy Director for Support at the CIA.<ref name="NBC" /> Prior to assuming deputy directorship of the NGA, Gordon served concurrently as director of the CIA's Information Operations Center and as the CIA director's senior advisor on cyber issues.
President Donald Trump announced on July 28, 2019 that he intended to nominate Republican congressman John Ratcliffe to replace Dan Coats as Director of National Intelligence (DNI), but withdrew Ratcliffe from consideration five days later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2019/07/28/us/politics/28reuters-usa-trump-coats.html|title=Ratcliffe Tapped to Replace Coats as U.S. Spy Chief|date=July 28, 2019|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ratcliffe-withdraws-from-consideration-for-intelligence-chief-trump-says/2019/08/02/9f3c42cc-b551-11e9-951e-de024209545d_story.html|title=Ratcliffe withdraws from consideration for intelligence chief less than a week after Trump picked him|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref> After Trump's announcement, it was not immediately clear if he would retain Gordon as acting DNI during Ratcliffe's confirmation process or if she would be retained in the agency upon Ratcliffe's confirmation. Two sources told CNN there was an active search underway and that Gordon was not considered likely to be retained because she "is viewed by some in the administration as someone who is not going to be the type of political loyalist Trump wants in that role."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/30/politics/trump-ratcliffe-rein-in-us-intelligence-agencies/index.html|title=Trump says Ratcliffe will 'rein in' US intelligence agencies as spy chief|author=Zachary Cohen and Nicole Gaouette|website=CNN|date=30 July 2019 }}</ref> Some Trump allies advised him Gordon was too close to former CIA director John Brennan, an outspoken Trump critic, an assertion Brennan dismissed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-08/u-s-deputy-intelligence-director-is-out-after-trump-meeting|title=Trump Says Deputy Intelligence Director to Resign With Coats|newspaper=Bloomberg |date=August 8, 2019|via=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/brennan-scoffs-at-trump-jr-suggestion-his-ties-to-sue-gordon-disqualify-her-for-dni|title=Brennan scoffs at Trump Jr. suggestion his ties to Sue Gordon disqualify her for DNI|date=August 9, 2019|website=Washington Examiner}}</ref> One Democratic congressional official told NBC News, "if he appoints anyone other than Sue Gordon as acting DNI, the Senate will raise holy hell".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/intel-officials-worry-trump-s-pick-top-spy-will-politicize-n1035821|title=Is Trump's pick for top spy qualified for the job?|website=NBC News|date=29 July 2019 }}</ref> By law, the principal deputy succeeds the director upon a vacancy, but on August 8, 2019 Trump announced Gordon was resigning and appointed the director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joseph Maguire as acting DNI.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/08/politics/deputy-dni-sue-gordon-leaving/index.html|title=Trump announces new intel chief pick, No. 2 intelligence official is leaving administration|author=Kevin Liptak|website=CNN|date=8 August 2019 }}</ref>
Since leaving the Intelligence Community, Gordon has become a member of the advisory board of Pallas Advisors, a national security strategic advisory firm based in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pallasadvisors.com/our-team|title=Pallas Advisors Team|language=en}}</ref> and the board of CACI.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.caci.com/|title=CACI|language=en}}</ref> She is also a consultant to Microsoft.<ref name="WelnaNPR2020">{{cite web | last1=Welna | first1=David | title=Exclusive: After Quitting Last Year, Senior U.S. Intelligence Official Now Talks | url=https://www.npr.org/2020/08/13/902345240/exclusive-after-quitting-last-year-senior-u-s-intelligence-official-now-talks | date=August 13, 2020 | work=NPR | access-date=August 14, 2020}}</ref>
In the book ''The Madman Theory'' by Jim Sciutto, Gordon stated in response to Donald Trump challenging of 'loyalty' of people in the Intelligence Community who disagreed with him, "You can say you don't believe intelligence as much as you want. If you're questioning the integrity of the people that put that in front of you, I think that's very difficult because those people, in their own minds, would never lack integrity."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-madman-theory-jim-sciutto|title=The Madman Theory|website=HarperCollins}}</ref>
In 2020, Gordon was named a candidate for either Director of National Intelligence or Director of the Central Intelligence Agency as part of the Administrative Presidency of Joe Biden.<ref>{{cite news |title=Who Are Contenders for Biden's Cabinet? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/us/politics/biden-cabinet.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage |access-date=11 November 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=11 November 2020}}</ref>
As of 2024, Gordon serves on the advisory board of the National Security Space Association.<ref name="NSSA Advisors, March 2024">{{Cite web|date=2024-03-14|title=National Security Space Association, Board of Advisors|url=https://nssaspace.org/advisors/|access-date=2024-03-14|url-status=live|website=National Security Space Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314230741/https://nssaspace.org/advisors/|archive-date=2024-03-14}}</ref> She also serves as vice chair of the board of trustees of the MITRE Corporation.<ref name="MITRE Leadership">{{Cite web|date=2024-03-26|title=The MITRE Corporation, Our Leadership|url=https://www.mitre.org/who-we-are/our-people/our-leadership|access-date=2024-03-26}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == {{Commons category-inline}} *{{C-SPAN|104883}} * [https://www.gordonventuresllc.com/ Official website]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gordon, Susan M.}} Category:Analysts of the Central Intelligence Agency Category:Deputy directors of the Defense Intelligence Agency Category:Duke University alumni Category:Living people Category:First Trump administration personnel Category:United States deputy directors of national intelligence Category:Year of birth missing (living people)