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Gina Haspel (CIA) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

Quick Info

Date of birthOctober 1, 1956

BirthplaceAshland, Kentucky, USA

ProfessionIntelligence officer

NationalityAmerican

Marital statusDivorced

SpouseJeff Haspel (m. 1976–div. 1985)

FamilyNone (no children)

Gina Haspel (CIA) Biography

Gina Haspel is a career U.S. intelligence officer who in May 2018 became the first woman to serve as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency after more

Early life and background
Gina Cheri Walker Haspel was born on October 1, 1956, in Ashland, Kentucky. She was raised in a military family and spent her childhood moving among bases, an upbringing that exposed her to disciplined environments and fostered an early interest in languages and travel. Haspel attended a high school in the United Kingdom and later studied at the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in languages and journalism.

Career
Haspel joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1985 as a reports officer with a focus on Russia; she is reported to be fluent in Russian. Early in her career she served in the field as an undercover officer, with a first overseas station in Ethiopia from 1987 to 1989. Subsequent postings included duties in Azerbaijan, where she was involved in operations that detained individuals linked to the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.

In 2001 she requested a transfer to the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center; her first day there was September 1, 2001. The following year she was placed in charge of a secret CIA base in Thailand. That posting involved oversight of interrogation activities that later drew public scrutiny.

Haspel served overseas again in London, including a posting beginning in 2008 where she worked on cooperation between U.S. and U.K. efforts against Al Qaeda, and another London assignment beginning in 2014. In 2013 she was named director of the National Clandestine Service, a component of the CIA. Back in the United States, she served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Director for Operations before being confirmed in May 2018 by a 54–45 Senate vote as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency—the first woman to hold that office after 33 years of CIA service.

Public profile
Throughout her long career Haspel has been known primarily as a clandestine officer who spent much of her time working undercover overseas. She has received several intelligence community awards, including the Intelligence Medal of Merit, a Presidential Rank Award, and the George H. W. Bush Award. Haspel’s professional life has been the subject of controversy related to the handling and destruction of videotapes connected to post-9/11 interrogation programs; a 2011 declassified disciplinary review concluded that she acted on orders from a superior when she drafted a cable ordering destruction of those tapes.

Personal life
Haspel was married to Jeff Haspel from 1976 until their divorce in 1985; the marriage produced no children. She is described as a dog lover who enjoys traveling and listening to music; she has long been a fan of singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. Haspel’s listed religion is Christianity. Her physical profile has been reported as approximately 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) tall with brown eyes and black hair.

Latest updates
After returning to the U.S. from London in 2017, Haspel took part in actions related to the suspension of Russian diplomats. In May 2018 she was confirmed as CIA Director, marking a milestone as the agency’s first female director. At the time of her directorship, her salary was reported as the Executive Schedule Level II.

Legacy and public view
Haspel’s career reflects decades of work in clandestine operations and counterterrorism. Her rise through the agency to become director underscores a trajectory built on field experience and leadership posts within the CIA’s human intelligence and clandestine mission sets. That record is accompanied by both recognition through awards and persistent debate over aspects of the agency’s post-9/11 interrogation programs.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Gina Haspel (CIA), send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

Confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May 2018 as the first woman to lead the CIA after 33 years of service.

2018
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Career Highlights

  1. Joined the CIA in 1985 as a reports officer specializing in Russia
  2. Field postings in Ethiopia and Azerbaijan; counterterrorism work after 2001
  3. Led a secret CIA base in Thailand in 2002
  4. Director of the National Clandestine Service in 2013
  5. Confirmed as the first female Director of the CIA in May 2018
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Gina Haspel (CIA) born?

Gina Haspel (CIA) was born on October 1, 1956.

What is Gina Haspel (CIA) known for?

Gina Haspel (CIA) is known for intelligence officer.

What is Gina Haspel (CIA)’s marital status?

Gina Haspel (CIA)'s marital status is listed as Divorced.

Who is Gina Haspel (CIA) married to?

Gina Haspel (CIA) is publicly listed as married to Jeff Haspel (m. 1976–div. 1985).