CHARLES A. BRIGGS SR. ’49

CHARLES A. BRIGGS SR., former executive director of the Central Intelligence Agency, died Nov. 4, 2015, at age 89. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II and in 1952 joined the CIA after receiving a master’s degree from the University of Michigan. Over the course of the following 34 years he went from being a Junior Officer Trainee to the top position of CIA Executive Director. He served in administrative roles in all four divisions with the agency, including postings as Inspector General, Comptroller, Director of Services Staff, Congressional Liaison, and Executive Director. He held the unique distinction (in June 1983) while serving as Executive Director, of being briefly designated as the Acting Director of Central Intelligence and Acting Deputy Director, serving in all three positions simultaneously. He was awarded the Distinguished Intelligence Medal in honor of his service and accomplishments. After retiring in 1986, he was called back to served the intelligence community as a private contractor. A notable contribution was serving as liaison for the creation of the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas, Tex., dedicated to the JFK Assassination. He served five years as chairman of the board for the Central Intelligence Retirement Association (CIRA) and also four years as chairman of the board for the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO). In 1999 he was awarded the distinguished David Atlee Phillips Founder’s award by AFIO for sustained and exceptional contributions. He was also active with his children in numerous sports leagues and organizations in his Vienna, Va., community. His wife, Catherine Ann Murphy Briggs (Caty) died in 2008. Nine children, 20 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, three brothers, and a large extended family survive.