1. KNOWLEDGE FOR ACTION
ROBERT M. GATES
LEADERSHIP BIO
By Kevin Wu

2. KNOWLEDGE FOR ACTION
Biography and Achievements
A Life of Service
Grew up in rural Kansas during 1940s and 1950s
Served in U.S. Air Force
Recruited to join CIA
National Security Council
Director of Central Intelligence Agency
Dean and President of Texas A&M
Secretary of Defense
Chancellor of William & Mary and President of Boy
Scouts of America
2

3. KNOWLEDGE FOR ACTION
Be Real
“I detest this job…”
“The best part of the job is the kids…they make me
cry…they are so awesome…only they could get me to
stay [for another term]”
3
• “A Soldier’s Secretary of Defense”
• Embodied his personal and family values in his
professional life
– Accountability, integrity, respecting
dissenting views
• A listener, solicited opinions from others
– Open door policy, esp. with Aggies in uniform
• Emotionally engaged in the job
– Took time every day to write personal hand-
written notes to the families of casualties or
visit wounded soldiers in hospitals

4. KNOWLEDGE FOR ACTION
Be Whole
“I called Colin Powell, an old friend, for advice…”
4
• Involved stakeholders across his domains in major
decisions: wife Becky, George H.W. Bush, Colin
Powell
• Very active in community and education causes
– Donated $1.5 million with his wife to children’s
research center at Texas A&M
– Elected to lead Boy Scouts of America
• Established boundaries to preserve time with family
• Carried a small countdown clock

5. KNOWLEDGE FOR ACTION
Be Innovative
“I had to change the way the Pentagon prioritized funding”
5
• Agent of change at Pentagon
– Reinvigorated Pentagon after Rumsfeld’s
divisive, arrogant leadership, and repaired
relationships with Congress and other agencies
– Refocused the Pentagon on prioritizing today’s
needs (MRAPs to protect soldiers from mines and
explosives) over future, notional conflicts
– Supported repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
– Supported women on submarines
– Foresaw the end of war coming and implemented
savings and spending restraint

6. KNOWLEDGE FOR ACTION
4 Way Win?
6
Family Work
CommunityPersonal

7. KNOWLEDGE FOR ACTION
Leadership Takeaways
7
• Never forget your values and where you came from
– Respect others for their points of view
• Servant leadership could be a powerful form of leadership
– Champion the cause of those who serve you
• Embodiment of a slow career, of life as an opportunity to have impact in a
multitude of areas
• Life is not necessarily a linear, sequential progression