William Colby | |
|---|---|
 Colby in 1975 | |
| 10th Director of Central Intelligence | |
| In office September 4, 1973 – January 30, 1976 | |
| President | Richard Nixon Gerald Ford |
| Deputy | Vernon A. Walters |
| Preceded by | Vernon A. Walters (acting) |
| Succeeded by | George H. W. Bush |
| Deputy Director of Central Intelligence for Operations | |
| In office March 2, 1973 – August 24, 1973 | |
| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Thomas Karamessines |
| Succeeded by | William Nelson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Egan Colby January 4, 1920 Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | May 6, 1996 (aged 76) Rock Point, Maryland, U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Spouse(s) | Barbara Heinzen (1945–1984) Sally Shelton (1984–1996) |
| Children | 5 (with Heinzen) |
| Relatives | Elbridge Colby (grandson) |
| Education | Princeton University (BA) Columbia University (LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Unit | Office of Strategic Services |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
William Egan Colby (January 4, 1920 – May 6, 1996) was an American intelligence officer who served as Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) from September 1973 to January 1976.
During World War II, Colby served with the Office of Strategic Services. After the war, he joined the newly created Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Before and during the Vietnam War, Colby served as chief of station in Saigon, chief of the CIA's Far East Division, and head of the Civil Operations and Rural Development effort and oversaw the Phoenix Program. After the war, Colby became Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) and during his tenure, under intense pressure from the Congress and the media, adopted a policy of relative openness about U.S. intelligence activities to the Senate Church Committee and the House Pike Committee. Colby served as DCI under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford until January 30, 1976 and was succeeded at the CIA by George H. W. Bush.