E. Henry Knoche | |
---|---|
Acting Director of Central Intelligence | |
In office January 20, 1977 – March 9, 1977 | |
President | Jimmy Carter |
Preceded by | George H. W. Bush |
Succeeded by | Stansfield Turner |
11th Deputy Director of Central Intelligence | |
In office July 7, 1976 – August 1, 1977 | |
President |
Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter |
Preceded by | Vernon A. Walters |
Succeeded by | John F. Blake |
Personal details | |
Born | Enno Henry Knoche January 14, 1925 Charleston, West Virginia |
Died | July 9, 2010 | (aged 85)
Alma mater | Washington & Jefferson College |
Awards | President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service (1977) |
Enno Henry Knoche (January 14, 1925 – July 9, 2010) was an American intelligence officer who served as deputy director of the CIA and acting Director of Central Intelligence. [1]
Knoche attended Mt. Lebanon School District, where he played basketball and tennis, winning a Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League doubles championship. [2] In 1942, he enrolled in Washington & Jefferson College, playing baseball and the freshman basketball team. He then enlisted in the United States Navy to serve in World War II in 1943. [2] Later, he attended Bethany College, again playing basketball and leading the team in scoring. [2] He then attended University of Colorado, where he led his basketball team to the 1946 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and played baseball. [2] Following his discharge from the military, he returned to W&J to complete his degree, graduating in 1947. [2] He then played for 2 years in the professional National Industrial Basketball League, leading his team in scoring both years. [2] He was drafted by the failing Pittsburgh Ironmen in the 1947 BAA Draft. [3] [nb 1] When his contract was then sold to the New York Knicks, Knoche demanded $2,500 (equivalent to $34,100 in 2023) to play for the team, a demand that was not met. [3] [4]
He served in the United States Navy as a Navy intelligence officer, in World War II, and the Korean War. [4]
He joined the CIA in 1953 as an analyst; he was fluent in Russian and the Fuzhou dialect. [4] During the Cuban Missile Crisis, he briefed President John F. Kennedy. [4] Even though he lacked the typical CIA resume, as having never served in operational capacity or in the clandestine operations, he was steadily promoted through the agency's ranks. [4] On July 7, 1976 he became deputy director, serving under director George H. W. Bush. [4] In that position, he was responsible for day-to-day agency operations. [4]
On January 12, 1977, he was honored as a recipient of the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service. Presentation of the award was made in the East Room of the White House by Vice President Nelson Rockefeller. [5]
Upon Bush's resignation from the CIA with the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter on January 20, 1977, Knoche became acting director. [4] That day, he briefed Carter on the agency's ongoing clandestine operations. [4] On January 21, 1977, he met with the president and delivered photo intelligence from Aerospace Data Facility-East. [6] His term as acting director ended when Stansfield Turner was confirmed as director of the CIA on March 9, 1977. [4]
Knoche retired on August 1, 1977. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. [4]
He married Angie Papoulas in 1947; they had five sons. [4]