A Sailor’s Story

John Poindexter defies the notion that there is no second act in American life. Since his first days at the Naval Academy, his professional success was seen as a foregone conclusion. But no one could have predicted how hard he'd fall from grace-and that it would happen twice.

1936

John Poindexter born in Odon, Indiana.

1958

Graduates first in his class from the U.S. Naval Academy.

1964

Completes doctoral studies in physics at Caltech.

1971-1974

Serves as assistant to three Navy secretaries-John Chafee, John Warner and William Middendorf (pictured).

1976-1978

Executive assistant to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Holloway (seated).

1978

Becomes commander of Navy Destroy Squadron 31, a major sea command post that will pave the road to becoming rear admiral in 1980.

1983-1985

Serves as deputy national security adviser.

1985

Succeeds Robert McFarlane as national security adviser. Resigns in November 1986 amid the burgeoning Iran-Contra scandal.

1991

Conviction on multiple Iran-Contra related felonies is overturned by federal appeals court.

1996

Becomes private consultant to DARPA on Project Genoa, a technology-based approach to managing national security crises.

2002

Installed as director of DARPA's Information Awareness Office, which oversees Poindexter's Total Information Awareness program.

2003

Resigns in August as IAO director, amid controversy over his TIA research.