January 15, 2019 · CIAOMF
The Chairman of the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation and one of its earliest Board members, the Honorable John E. McLaughlin, has decided to step down from his leadership role after seven years in that position.
Under Mr. McLaughlin’s leadership, the Foundation has transformed from a devoted but relatively simple volunteer organization, into a full-fledged, highly professional Foundation with top scores from the nation’s charity rating services. During his tenure, the Foundation has grown from supporting a handful of students at the start to a current cumulative total of 132 surviving dependents, who have been provided with scholarship assistance over that time amounting to $7.5 million. At the same time, Mr. McLaughlin led the Foundation into expanding its mission as funding allowed, offering support to Agency families in other ways such as providing counseling, rehabilitation, and day care funding for the children of deceased CIA officers.
During his tenure, the number of dependents eligible for future scholarships has also grown, currently reaching 117 individuals. This increase reflects the growing population of students and spouses needing the Foundation’s support in an era that has been particularly dangerous and costly to the men and women of CIA as it pursues its mission of protecting America.
Mr. McLaughlin wishes to thank all of you for your generous donations to the Foundation. You can be confident that your assistance is put to the best possible use in support of CIA families -- and confident as well in the deep gratitude the families, Mr. McLaughlin, the Board of Directors and Foundation staff extend towards all of our supporters.
The new Chairman of the Foundation is Mr. Jeffrey H. Smith. Mr. Smith served as the former General Counsel of the CIA and as a distinguished senior partner at the Arnold and Porter law firm. He was present at the creation of the Foundation, one of the visionaries who helped bring it into existence in 2002 and has been its General Counsel since then. Mr. Smith is widely respected and admired in Washington for his integrity, judgment, and expertise – – and is consulted by many people on a wide variety of subjects. All will agree that he is an extraordinarily capable and well-qualified choice to head the Foundation going forward.
