Robert M. Gates served as the 22nd U.S. Secretary of Defense (2006–2011). Gates served eight U.S. presidents across both parties and has the distinction of being the only secretary of defense in U.S. history to be asked to remain in office by a newly elected president. On Gates’ last day as secretary, President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Gates began his career at the Central Intelligence Agency and spent nearly 27 years as an intelligence professional. He was the first career officer in CIA’s history to rise from entry-level employee to director. Gates later served as president of Texas A&M University and is currently in his third term as Chancellor of William & Mary. Gates has authored four books covering his experiences at CIA and at the Pentagon, leadership, and U.S. nonmilitary instruments of power