The Intelligence Professional Who Stood for Principle
Think about the people who work in the shadows to keep a country safe. We often imagine them as characters from a spy thriller, but the reality is usually far more nuanced and, in many ways, more impressive. The real heroes of national security are often career professionals who dedicate their lives not to flashy missions, but to the quiet, meticulous work of analysis, leadership, and integrity. Sue Gordon is one of those people. Her name might not be a household one, but within the halls of the U.S. Intelligence Community, she is spoken of with a level of respect that transcends political parties. Her story is not just a biography; it is a lesson in what effective, principled leadership looks like, especially when it is tested.
I have always been fascinated by the individuals who operate at the highest levels of government without seeking the spotlight. Their motivations are different. They are driven by a sense of duty. Learning about Sue Gordon felt like finding a blueprint for that kind of service. In a time when it feels like every news cycle is dominated by partisan noise, her career stands as a testament to the power of quiet competence.
Who is Sue Gordon? The Foundation of a Career
To understand why Sue Gordon’s resignation in 2019 was such a significant event, you first need to understand who she was and what she represented. She was not a political appointee who came and went with an administration. She was a career intelligence officer, a creature of the system in the best possible sense. She had spent decades learning its intricacies, earning the trust of her colleagues, and proving her worth through results.
Sue Gordon’s journey began far from the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. She was a standout student and athlete, which perhaps foreshadowed the discipline and competitive spirit she would later bring to her work. She attended Amherst College, where she was a star in both basketball and field hockey. That experience in team sports, I believe, is crucial to understanding her later leadership style. In team sports, you learn that success is not about individual glory. It is about understanding your role, trusting your teammates, and working toward a common goal. You learn to win with grace and lose with dignity. These are not just clichés; they are the bedrock of collaborative work, whether on a basketball court or in a high-stakes intelligence agency.
The CIA Years: Learning the Craft
Gordon’s professional home for the bulk of her career was the Central Intelligence Agency, the CIA. She joined in the 1980s, a time when the intelligence world was vastly different from today. The Cold War was still ongoing, and the digital revolution was just a glimmer on the horizon. She did not start at the top. She worked her way up through the ranks, specializing in science and technology intelligence. This is a critical point. Her expertise was not in political analysis, which can be subjective, but in the hard, factual world of technology. She was a problem-solver, someone who dealt with data and systems.
During her nearly three decades at the CIA, she held numerous leadership positions. She was not just an analyst; she was a manager, a mentor, and a leader. She ran the Office of Technical Service, which is essentially the “Q Branch” of the CIA, responsible for creating the gadgets and technologies used in the field. This role required immense creativity, budgetary savvy, and the ability to manage brilliant, often eccentric, minds. It was here that she honed her ability to bridge the gap between the operational needs of spies in the field and the technological possibilities dreamed up by engineers in the lab. This skill—translating complex, technical concepts into actionable intelligence—would become her trademark.
Leading the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
If there is one role that truly defined Sue Gordon’s expertise, it was her time as the Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and later, its Principal Deputy Director. The NGA is an agency that most people have never heard of, but its work touches almost every aspect of national security. Simply put, the NGA is responsible for geospatial intelligence, or GEOINT. This means they analyze and interpret imagery and mapping data to understand what is happening anywhere on Earth.
Think about it like this. When a military commander needs to know the best route for a convoy, they use NGA data. When policymakers need to understand the progress of a flood or a wildfire, they look at NGA imagery. When monitoring the construction of a new missile site in a adversarial country, it is the NGA that provides the evidence. Gordon’s leadership at the NGA was transformative. She pushed the agency to embrace new technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to process the overwhelming flood of satellite and drone imagery. She understood that in the 21st century, the challenge was not a lack of data, but a lack of ability to make sense of it all. Under her guidance, the NGA became more agile, more data-driven, and more critical than ever before.
Her success at the NGA cemented her reputation as one of the most capable and forward-thinking leaders in the entire Intelligence Community. She was not just a manager; she was an innovator. She spoke the language of Silicon Valley as fluently as she spoke the language of the Pentagon. This unique combination made her invaluable.
The Pinnacle Role: Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence
In 2017, Sue Gordon was appointed by President Donald Trump to be the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (PDDNI). This is the second-highest position in the entire U.S. Intelligence Community, right below the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). The DNI is the president’s chief intelligence advisor and is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the 17 different agencies that make up the IC, from the CIA and FBI to the NSA and NGA.
The PDDNI is often the steady hand that manages the day-to-day operations of this vast, sprawling community. While the DNI is often a political appointee who might be a close ally of the president, the PDDNI is frequently a career professional who provides continuity and deep institutional knowledge. Sue Gordon was the perfect person for this job. She was widely respected across all agencies. She understood the technical side, the analytical side, and the human side of intelligence.
For over two years, she served in this role with distinction under DNIs Dan Coats and, for a brief period, as the acting head of the community. Her tenure was marked by a commitment to the nonpartisan truth-telling mission of intelligence. The Intelligence Community’s job is to provide facts to policymakers, regardless of whether those facts are politically convenient. This can sometimes create tension, and Gordon’s period as PDDNI was no exception. She was a key figure in upholding the integrity of the intelligence assessment process, ensuring that politics did not color the analytical conclusions presented to the White House and Congress.
The Resignation of 2019: A Watershed Moment
The summer of 2019 was a turbulent time in Washington. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, a former senator known for his steadfast commitment to the intelligence agencies, was stepping down. The natural, expected, and widely supported choice to replace him, at least in an acting capacity, was Sue Gordon. She had the experience, the respect, and the deep knowledge required. She was the obvious successor.
However, that is not what happened. President Trump instead nominated Congressman John Ratcliffe, a staunch political ally with a much thinner resume in intelligence matters. Furthermore, the President made it clear that he intended for Ratcliffe to take over immediately, bypassing Gordon. This created an impossible situation. The tradition of having a seasoned career professional as the deputy was being set aside.
On August 15, 2019, Sue Gordon submitted her resignation letter. It was not a long, dramatic document. It was a masterpiece of professionalism and subtle messaging. To the untrained eye, it might have seemed like a standard, gracious resignation note. But to anyone who knows the culture of government, every word was carefully chosen.
She wrote to the President: “My duty to the mission and to the magnificent men and women of the Intelligence Community has guided me every single day of my service. That duty now compels me to depart.”
This was not a letter written by someone who was tired or wanted to spend more time with their family. This was the letter of someone whose core principles—duty to the mission and to her people—were no longer compatible with the political direction of the administration. By stating that her duty compelled her to depart, she was sending a powerful signal: staying would have been a disservice to the integrity of the Intelligence Community she loved.
The impact of her resignation was immediate and profound. Colleagues from both political parties expressed their dismay. They spoke of her as the “glue” that held the community together, a “national treasure,” and the embodiment of the “steady, professional, nonpartisan competence” that is so vital to national security. Her departure was not just the loss of one person; it was seen as the weakening of a vital institutional norm.
Life After Government and a Lasting Legacy
So, where is Sue Gordon now? Unlike some former officials who fade from public view, she has remained active and influential. She did not leave her expertise behind. She took it to the private sector, where she serves on corporate boards, particularly for technology and cybersecurity companies. She is also a sought-after speaker and advisor, using her deep knowledge of data, technology, and security to help businesses navigate a complex world.
This is a common and valuable path for former senior officials. Their experience in managing large, complex government organizations is incredibly valuable to private companies. In Gordon’s case, her specific expertise in geospatial data and cybersecurity is in high demand. She is, in a way, still serving the national interest by helping to strengthen the country’s technological and cyber defenses from the outside.
Her legacy, however, is far greater than her current work. Sue Gordon’s career serves as a powerful model, especially for women in national security. She broke barriers in a field that was, for a long time, dominated by men. She did it not by being the loudest voice in the room, but by being the most knowledgeable. She demonstrated that leadership is about competence, integrity, and a genuine care for the people you lead.
Perhaps her most enduring legacy is the standard she set for public service. In an era of deep political division, she proved that it is possible to serve with unwavering loyalty to the Constitution and the mission, rather than to a person or a party. Her resignation was not an act of defiance; it was the ultimate act of service. It was a clear statement that the health of the nation’s intelligence apparatus is more important than any single individual’s career.
Conclusion
The story of Sue Gordon is more than a simple career summary. It is a narrative about the quiet, often invisible, work that truly keeps a nation secure. It is a reminder that the most effective leaders are often those who prioritize the mission over their own ambition, who lead with humility and deep expertise, and who understand that true power lies in the respect you earn, not the title you are given.
Her departure from government in 2019 was a loss for the country, but her example remains. It serves as a guide for the next generation of intelligence professionals and a standard against which we should measure all our public servants. In the end, Sue Gordon’s story teaches us that in a world of noise and flash, substance, principle, and quiet competence will always be the most valuable currencies of all.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Who is Sue Gordon?
Sue Gordon is a former senior American intelligence official who served for over three decades in the U.S. government. Her most prominent role was as the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (PDDNI) from 2017 to 2019, the second-highest position in the U.S. Intelligence Community.
2. What is Sue Gordon known for?
She is known for her deep expertise in geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) from her leadership roles at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the CIA. She is also widely respected for her principled resignation in 2019, which was seen as a stand for the nonpartisan integrity of the Intelligence Community.
3. Why did Sue Gordon resign?
She resigned in August 2019 after President Trump nominated Congressman John Ratcliffe to be the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), bypassing Gordon for the acting role despite her extensive qualifications. Her resignation letter implied that her continued service would be incompatible with her duty to the intelligence mission and its personnel.
4. What is Sue Gordon doing now?
Since leaving government, Sue Gordon serves on the boards of directors for several technology and security companies, including Palantir Technologies. She is also a public speaker and advisor, leveraging her expertise in data, cybersecurity, and intelligence.
5. What was Sue Gordon’s role at the NGA?
She served as the Deputy Director of the NGA and later as its Principal Deputy Director. In these roles, she was instrumental in modernizing the agency, pushing for the adoption of advanced technologies like AI to analyze geospatial data for national security purposes.