William Eldridge Odom

William Eldridge Odom
Official portrait, 1984
Born	(1932-06-23)June 23, 1932 Cookeville, Tennessee, US
Died	May 30, 2008(2008-05-30) (aged 75) Lincoln, Vermont, US
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1954–1988
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	National Security Agency
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit
Other work	Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute Adjunct professor, Yale University Adjunct professor, Georgetown University

William Eldridge Odom (June 23, 1932 – May 30, 2008) was a United States Army lieutenant general who served as Director of the National Security Agency under President Ronald Reagan, which culminated a 31-year career in military intelligence, mainly specializing in matters relating to the Soviet Union. After his retirement from the military, he became a think tank policy expert and a university professor and became known for his outspoken criticism of the Iraq War and warrantless wiretapping of American citizens. He died of an apparent heart attack at his vacation home in Lincoln, Vermont.^[1]