Thomas S. Gates Jr.

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Thomas S. Gates Jr.
3rd Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office in Beijing
In office May 6, 1976 – May 8, 1977
President	Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	George H. W. Bush
Succeeded by	Leonard Woodcock
7th United States Secretary of Defense
In office December 2, 1959 – January 20, 1961
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Deputy	James H. Douglas Jr.
Preceded by	Neil H. McElroy
Succeeded by	Robert McNamara
8th United States Deputy Secretary of Defense
In office June 8, 1959 – December 1, 1959
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by	Donald A. Quarles
Succeeded by	James H. Douglas Jr.
54th United States Secretary of the Navy
In office April 1, 1957 – June 8, 1959
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Deputy	William B. Franke
Preceded by	Charles Thomas
Succeeded by	William B. Franke
9th United States Under Secretary of the Navy
In office October 7, 1953 – April 1, 1957
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by	Charles Thomas
Succeeded by	William B. Franke
Personal details
Born	Thomas Sovereign Gates Jr. (1906-04-10)April 10, 1906 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	March 25, 1983(1983-03-25) (aged 76) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Millicent Brengle
Children	4
Relatives	Thomas Sovereign Gates (father)
Education	University of Pennsylvania (BA)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Navy
Rank	Lieutenant Commander
Battles/wars	World War II

Thomas Sovereign Gates Jr. (April 10, 1906 – March 25, 1983) was an American politician and diplomat who served as Secretary of Defense from 1959 to 1961 and Secretary of the Navy from 1957 to 1959, both under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.^[1] During his tenure as Secretary of Defense, he established a task force to set nuclear target priorities. He also authorized U-2 reconnaissance flights, including the flight of Francis Gary Powers.

Later in his career, he served as the Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office in Beijing, appointed by President Gerald Ford.