David Gompert

David Charles Gompert (October 6, 1945 – August 21, 2024) is an American government official and former diplomat who served as the acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) following the resignation of Dennis C. Blair in 2009. Prior to his ascension as DNI, he was Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence and continued serving in that capacity until 2011.^[1]

David Gompert
3rd Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence
In office November 10, 2009 – February 11, 2011
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Donald Kerr
Succeeded by	Stephanie O'Sullivan
Acting Director of National Intelligence
In office May 28, 2010 – August 5, 2010
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Dennis C. Blair
Succeeded by	James Clapper
Personal details
Born	David Charles Gompert (1945-10-06)October 6, 1945
Died	August 21, 2024(2024-08-21) (aged 78)
Education	United States Naval Academy (BS) Princeton University (MPA)

Career

In between government and academic tenures, Gompert has worked in the private sector. He has worked in senior executive positions at Unisys, AT&T, and most recently as a senior fellow at RAND,^[2][3] a leading research organization that explores topics such as national security, terrorism, economic development, and science and technology. Before that, he was a distinguished research professor at the National Defense University's Center for Technology and National Security Policy.

From 2003 to 2004, Gompert was the senior adviser for national security and defense to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq that followed the deposed Ba'athist regime.

From 1975 to 1983, he held numerous positions at the U.S. Department of State, serving as deputy to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, deputy director of the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, and special assistant to former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.^[4] Following these capacities in the Ford, Carter, and Reagan administrations, he was appointed Special Assistant to President George H. W. Bush.

Gompert received a bachelor's degree in engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, where he once served on the faculty,^[5] and a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.^[6]