Bobby Ray Inman

Bobby Ray Inman
Bobby Ray Inman
Born	April 4, 1931 (age 95); Rhonesboro, Texas, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Naval officer, intelligence official, businessman, academic
Known for	Director of Naval Intelligence, Director of the National Security Agency, Deputy Director of Central Intelligence

Bobby Ray Inman (born April 4, 1931) is a retired admiral of the United States Navy who occupied several prominent positions within the United States Intelligence Community.

Early years

Inman was born and brought up in Rhonesboro, Texas. His father operated a gas station. He completed his studies at Mineola High School by the age of 15 in 1946. Subsequently, he enrolled at Tyler Junior College, where he became a member of the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society, and earned a history degree from the University of Texas before turning 20. During the Korean War, he joined the Naval Reserve, quickly advancing through the ranks in naval intelligence.

Naval career

From September 1974 until July 1976, Inman was Director of Naval Intelligence, followed by his role as vice director of the Defense Intelligence Agency until 1977. He then led the National Security Agency as its director until 1981 and served as deputy director of Central Intelligence between February 1981 and June 1982.

Inman firmly disputed Israel’s claim of mistaken identity concerning the 1967 USS Liberty incident, basing his assessment on consultations with senior NSA officials who believed the attack was intentional.

While holding the dual roles of NSA director and CIA deputy director in early 1981, Inman advanced modernization efforts by creating a joint collection facility located in College Park, Maryland.

In 1976, cryptographers Martin Hellman and Whitfield Diffie developed the Diffie–Hellman key exchange, transforming how cryptographic keys are distributed. When they planned to present their work in 1977, the NSA—under Inman’s leadership—warned that publicizing this technology was comparable to revealing nuclear secrets. Inman was concerned that hostile entities using encryption would impair NSA signals intelligence capabilities. Despite these warnings, Hellman proceeded with disclosure, and Inman eventually embraced the technology; they later formed a friendship. Today, public key cryptography is fundamental to internet security.

In 1980, Inman permitted an openly gay linguist at the NSA to maintain security clearance, a decision made well before official policy reforms by approximately fifteen years.

He chaired a commission tasked with enhancing security at U.S. overseas facilities following bombings in Beirut; its recommendations significantly shaped security protocols at U.S. Embassies.

After retiring from active naval service, Inman served as chairman and CEO of the Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC) based in Austin for four years and then led Westmark Systems, Inc., a private electronics holding firm, for three years. Additionally, he chaired the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas from 1987 to 1990.

Since 1990, Inman has concentrated on investing in technology startups as managing director of Limestone Ventures and holds board positions with various private companies. He is also a trustee for both the American Assembly and California Institute of Technology and is recognized as a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.

President Clinton nominated him for Secretary of Defense; however, Inman chose to withdraw from consideration.

He has been a board member of SAIC and has held the LBJ Centennial Chair in National Policy at The University of Texas at Austin’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs since 2001, where he also served as interim dean in both 2005 and 2009. Notably, he earned his bachelor's degree in history from Texas in 1950.

His board memberships have included organizations such as the Council on Foreign Relations, Dell, SBC Corporation (now AT&T), and Massey Energy.

In 2011, Inman took on the role of chairman of the board for Xe Services, previously known as Blackwater Worldwide (currently Academi), a major private security company. As of 2013, he continues to serve on Academi’s board.

Nomination for Secretary of Defense

On December 16, 1993, President Bill Clinton announced Inman as his nominee to replace Les Aspin as Secretary of Defense, initially garnering widespread bipartisan approval. Although Inman accepted the nomination, he ultimately withdrew during a press conference held on January 18, 1994.

During the event, Inman sharply criticized The New York Times columnist William Safire, who had accused him of exhibiting "anti-Israel bias" and highlighted other unfavorable attributes. Inman alleged that Safire was influencing Senator Bob Dole and asserted that both Dole and Senator Trent Lott were escalating opposition to his appointment.

Senator Dole responded by stating, "I have no idea what's gotten into Bobby Inman... Admiral Inman's letter doesn't make any sense to me." Meanwhile, Senator Lott described the press conference as "bizarre," and a White House official remarked that many were taken aback by Inman's comments.

International Signal and Control (ISC) Scandal

Following Inman’s withdrawal from consideration for Defense Secretary in 1994, speculation arose that the move was intended to obscure his association with International Signal and Control (ISC), where he served on the board. ISC faced accusations involving either negligence or unlawful export activities.

Originally established as ESI in 1974, ISC produced sub-components for U.S. defense contracts, including parts for the AGM-45 Shrike and RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles. The company also manufactured commercial communication devices such as portable amateur radios and radios integrated into firefighters' helmets.

ISC became embroiled in two significant controversies that culminated in CEO James Guerin receiving a 15-year prison sentence:

Fraudulent activities that led to the downfall of British firm Ferranti, which had acquired ISC in 1987.
Illegal transfers of classified military technologies to South Africa, which were subsequently passed on to other nations, notably Iraq.

Between 1984 and 1988, ISC exported over $30 million worth of military hardware to South Africa—including telemetry tracking antennas, gyroscopes for missile guidance systems, and photo-imaging film readers—that played a critical role in South Africa's medium-range missile development. Some of this technology reportedly reached Iraq. Additionally, specifications for the Mk 20 Rockeye II cluster bomb were provided through Chilean defense contractor Cardoen Industries, enabling production of similar munitions later deployed against coalition forces during the 1991 Gulf War.

Statements

In 2006, Inman publicly condemned the Bush administration’s implementation of warrantless domestic wiretapping, becoming one of the most senior former intelligence officials to voice opposition. He declared the surveillance unauthorized and called on the administration to halt these operations.

For the 2024 United States presidential election, Inman expressed his endorsement of Kamala Harris.

Awards and decorations

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1st row	Navy Distinguished Service Medal		Defense Superior Service Medal
2nd row	Legion of Merit	Meritorious Service Medal		Joint Service Commendation Medal
3rd row	Navy Unit Commendation	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation		Navy Occupation Service Medal

In 1982, Inman was honored with the American Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award, presented by General David C. Jones at a ceremony held in New Orleans.

External links

Biography of Bobby R. Inman—FAS.org
University of Texas Faculty Profile

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