William Colby

William Colby
Colby in 1975
10th Director of Central Intelligence
In office
September 4, 1973 – January 30, 1976
PresidentRichard Nixon
Gerald Ford
DeputyVernon A. Walters
Preceded byVernon A. Walters (acting)
Succeeded byGeorge H. W. Bush
Deputy Director of Central Intelligence for Operations
In office
March 2, 1973 – August 24, 1973
PresidentRichard Nixon
Preceded byThomas Karamessines
Succeeded byWilliam Nelson
Personal details
Born
William Egan Colby

(1920-01-04)January 4, 1920
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedMay 6, 1996(1996-05-06) (aged 76)
Rock Point, Maryland, U.S.
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
Spouse(s)Barbara Heinzen (1945–1984)
Sally Shelton (1984–1996)
Children5 (with Heinzen)
RelativesElbridge Colby (grandson)
EducationPrinceton University (BA)
Columbia University (LLB)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
UnitOffice of Strategic Services
Battles/warsWorld 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.