Dead Drop December 28

NGA TAKES SHARP TURN: The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) announced on December 26th that Navy Rear Admiral Robert Sharp has been selected to be the next director of the Agency.  Sharp, who had recently been confirmed for promotion to Vice Admiral, is set to take over NGA from the present director, Robert Cardillo, in a ceremony in February. Sharp currently is director of the Office of Naval Intelligence.  According to C4ISRNET, an NGA spokeswoman declined to comment about whether Cardillo is retiring or moving to another government assignment. To our ear, that sounds like he might be in consideration for another gig — otherwise — why not say he is moving on?

CIAOMF SAYS CIAO TO CHAIRMAN: The Dead Drop hears that John McLaughlin is stepping down as the chairman of the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation the organization which supports the well-being and educational needs of the children and spouses of fallen CIA officers. McLaughlin has led the foundation for over seven years According to their website, during the current school year the foundation is supporting 49 students and awarding scholarships totaling $1,154,400 more than double the dollar amount awarded when McLaughlin became chairman. McLaughlin’s successor will be long-time Washington hand Jeffrey Smith.  A retired partner at Arnold Porter, Smith is a former CIA general counsel and served in senior positions in the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill. One of the foundation’s first steps after McLaughlin informed them of his plans to step down was to select him as the honoree for their annual Richard M. Helms Award dinner this spring.  Past recipients of the Helms award have included people like Presidents Bush (41 & 43), Judge William Webster, Leon Panetta, Henry Kissinger, Madeleine Albright, and Admiral William McRaven.