Wichita-native Robert Gates turned 80 years old on Monday. He served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006-2011. He was appointed by President George W. Bush, and was retained by President Barack Obama.
Gates was born in Wichita; he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, and graduated from Wichita East High School.
Gates was an officer in the U.S. Air Force, then recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); he served for 26 years in the CIA and at the National Security Council, and was director of central intelligence under President George H.W. Bush from 1991-1993.
After leaving the CIA, Gates became president of Texas A&M University.
Gates was nominated by Republican president George W. Bush as secretary of defense in 2006, replacing Donald Rumsfeld, and confirmed with bipartisan support.
He continued to serve as secretary of defense in Democratic President Barack Obama's administration, and retired in 2011. Gates was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, by President Obama during his retirement ceremony.
After leaving the Obama administration, Gates served as Chancellor of the College of William & Mary, his alma mater.