gates left the cia in 1974 to serve on the staff of the national security council. he returned to the cia in late 1979, serving briefly as the director of the strategic evaluation center, office of strategic research. he was named the director of the dci/ddci executive staff in 1981, deputy director for intelligence in 1982, and deputy director of central intelligence from april 18, 1986, to march 20, 1989.