Eloise Page

Eloise Randolph Page (February 19, 1920 – October 16, 2002) was an American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer. She was the first female officer in several agency roles.

Early life Page was born and grew up in Richmond, Virginia. She learned piano as a child and originally hoped to be a professional musician.

Education Page attended Hollins College and earned a Master's Degree in political science from George Washington University. In the early 1960s, Page directed Operation Lincoln, a program in which scientists were encouraged to gather technical intelligence during their vacations to the Soviet Union. She progressed to a senior role with the Agency, becoming the CIA's first female station chief in 1978.

In 1987, Page retired, receiving the Distinguished Intelligence Medal. She had been the highest ranking female officer in the CIA since 1975. Following retirement, she continued consulting with the Defense Intelligence Agency on terrorism, and taught at the National Defense University. In 1997, she was one of 50 CIA officers who received a Trailblazer Award for service. Her Trailblazer citation called her "a role model" and "a champion of using technology to solve operational problems".

Legacy During her tenure at the CIA, Page was known for being a "proper Southern woman", wearing white gloves and regularly teaching Sunday school at the Christ Episcopal Church in Georgetown.

A dramatized version of the history of the CIA, told from the perspective of Page during her 40-year career at the agency, including her interactions with Allen Dulles, Richard Helms, and Kermit Roosevelt Jr. was produced by the BBC in September 2024.