Joseph Hayes, a senior Central Intelligence Agency officer who spent almost 35 dedicated years with the CIA, died Feb. 10, 2019, at age 81.
Hayes graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1962, and attended the Stanford graduate school. He then began working for the CIA. In 1972, he earned an MPA degree from Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School. After Princeton, he rejoined the CIA.
Over the course of his career, Hayes served in seven locations in Central and Eastern Europe and the Far East in positions ranging from espionage officer to senior field commander of global programs to Chief of Station. In Washington, D.C., he served in senior positions in the Soviet/Eastern European Affairs Division overseeing operations against the USSR, was chief of policy, and led a major CIA-NSA program.
Hayes was founder of the Center for the Study of Intelligence, and in his last assignment he was chosen the first holder of the Richard Helms Chair, where he worked with the next generation of operations officers for overseas activity. He received many awards and honors during his CIA service. After retiring, he was a consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton.
Hayes is survived by his wife of 55 years, Marbeth; two sons; and one granddaughter.
Graduate alumni memorials are prepared by the APGA.