[1]DARAAN
[2]\104-10303-10003 | 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 |
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[9]KENT EXTRACT
[11]1946 to 1948. He graduated from the Latin American
[13]retirement he served in several Capacities ranging from
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[19]it in a lucid; - -highly readable manner. On the first occasion,
[21]Mr. William M. Kent joined the Agency in December .
[22]1951. He had previously received a degree in diplomatic
[23]and public relations from the Latin American Institute,
[24]New York City and had served time in the U.S. Army from
[26]Institute with. the sbighest honors and 4 ‘awards.
[28]Mr. Kent was initially assigned to the Office of ae
[29]Special Operations as a clerk typist and,,after six er ae
[30]months, in June 1952, was assigned Cofpantina] as an
[32]intelligence officer "under non-official cover. In July = «=~. aaa
[34]1956 he returned to Headquarters where he worked as an
[35]area operations officer: in the Western Hemisphere Divi-
[36]sion. After a.successful stint in. the Cubagige tion he
[37]was assigned as an operations officer,tp (Cara as, After
[38]an excellently productive tour. in (Car! <O5F Mr. Kent was
[39]selected to join JMWAVE in. Miami. Carre he really shone
[40]as attested to in. the following quote from his fitness
[41]report: "He has been placed in most difficult positions,
[42]particularly in the handling of incompatible people and
[43]groups which he has managed without alienating either he
[44]side arid on various occasions accomplishing the impossible , a
[45]by satisfying everyone concerned." After his tour in Miami,
[46]he headed several sections in Headquarters in the Western
[47]Hemisphere Division, In 1967 he was transferred to New _
[48]Orleans and then to the Washington Base. In both places
[50]he worked under fon-official cover}24 From 1970 until his”
[52]the planning and guiding of Covert Action programs to
[53]occupying managerial positions. During these eight years.
[54]he received seven strong and three outstanding overall
[55]ratings. Of special note are the various.commendation-—.-———....
[56]and laudatory reports: concerning Mr. Kent's performance during
[57]the "Chilean crisis". Because of his excellent performance -
[58]during the Chilean crisis he again was asked to help the .
[59]Latin American Division during several investigations. He
[60]performed admirably as reflected in a commendation: written
[61]by the Deputy Chief of LA Division on S December 1975:
[63]"When confronted with a need to produce a paper on Chile in
[65]a short timeframe, I instinctively turned to him. It was not
[66]only because he had expertise on Chile, but to service in
[68]the Chile Branch, but: because he is highly skilled in written
[69]presentation. He organizes his material well and presents
[71]he helped us prepare a paper that was eventually used by the
[72]Director in his presentation before the Senate Select Com-
[73]mittee on -14- 15° July. On the second > occasion his contribution
[78]oN ores Dee pet ents ents nea sentenced
[80]was used by the DDO in his appearance before the Senate _
[81]Select Committee on 28 October. Both of these papers
[82]were excellent and have withstood critical scrutiny."
[84]Mr. Kent has now left the Agency after 26 years of
[85]distinguished service as an operations officer and as a
[87]_ Manager both in the field and at Headquarters. On the
[89]occasion of his.retirement, it is appropriate that Mr.
[91]' Kent's career achievements be suitably recognized. It
[93]+ is recommended that he be awarded the Career Intelligence.
[95]- Medal in recognition of his long and distinguished service.