James Pavitt

James L. Pavitt (born February 19, 1946) was deputy director for operations (DDO) for the CIA from June 23, 1999, until July 12, 2004, when he resigned a day after George Tenet. The CIA said the resignations were for personal reasons.

Background Pavitt was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated from the University of Missouri (B.A., 1968) in Columbia, Missouri as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. and was formerly on the board of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO).

He was married with two children (from a previous marriage) and resided in McLean, Virginia.

His hobbies included collecting art, especially primitive American art. He was expelled (PNG'd) from East Germany. He served as a branch chief in the Africa Division. From 1990 to 1993, he served on the National Security Council team under Brent Scowcroft as senior intelligence advisor to President George H. W. Bush. After being assigned to work across the agency operational/analytical divide in the Directorate of Intelligence, he became the founder and first chief of the Directorate of Operation's Counterproliferation Division (CPD). Gordon Oehler, then chief of the Directorate of Intelligence's Non-Proliferation Center, criticized this as being redundant and stepping on his turf. This was considered a specious critique by veteran Agency HUMINT operations officers, however, especially those who had been assigned under Oehler previously and realized that Oehler held HUMINT counterproliferation operations—indeed, covert operations in general—in considerable disdain. Pavitt hand picked operations officers, some of which were Nonofficial Cover Officers (NOCs) including Valerie Plame, to staff the CPD. In 2003, the CPD took down the nuclear black market being operated by Abdul Qadeer Khan.

When Bush put Porter Goss in charge of the agency, Pavitt reportedly opposed the internal reorganizations announced by Goss, on the ground that they might "do damage to a strategic effort that has produced excellent work on terrorism and a variety of other important issues." On June 4, 2004, he unexpectedly announced his retirement one day after George Tenet. The CIA said Pavitt's decision was unconnected with Tenet's departure. Pavitt was succeeded by his deputy, Stephen Kappes. On June 21, 2004, Pavitt delivered one of his last speeches as DDO to the Foreign Policy Association. He resigned in July 12, 2004, one day after of Tenet's resignation.

Pavitt is a recipient of the CIA's Distinguished Intelligence Medal. He is a director of CACI International, Inc.