CIA Officers Memorial Foundation

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Leonardo DRS Pledges Support to the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation

Leonardo DRS is pledging its support to the CIA Officer’s Memorial Foundation in the organization’s mission to support the well-being and educational needs of children and spouses of all fallen CIA officers.

Leonardo DRS is proud to support CIA Families through our sponsorship of the Educational Assistance for Youth Scholarship program which provides funds for students attending college.

About The Organization

This year marks the 20th anniversary of The CIA Officers Memorial Foundation, an independent charity dedicated exclusively to supporting the well-being and educational needs of CIA families. In November 2001, the CIA acknowledged that one of its officers, Johnny Michael Spann, was the first American killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Tragically, Mike left behind his wife and three young children. Realizing the immediate need to provide support to Mike’s family and those that were certain to follow, a group of former CIA officers led by Richard Helms, former Director of Central Intelligence, established the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation.

The response from across America was quick and generous. As donations grew, working with the CIA’s Office of Casualty Affairs, the Foundation reached out to the families of officers who died in the line of duty to let them know help was available and to assess needs. Initially, the Foundation focused on providing post-secondary educational support for the children of fallen officers but soon discovered a need to offer educational support for the spouses whose partners had paid the ultimate sacrifice. In 2019, the Foundation expanded its mission to include day-care assistance.

Each year since its inception, the Foundation has aided a growing number of CIA families. To date, the Foundation has awarded over $9 million in education scholarships to over 170 students as they pursued college degrees or certification goals. For the 2020-21 academic year, the Foundation granted a total of $1,633,360.00 to 73 students.

Sadly, the need for future support continues to grow. Currently, there are 92 children and spouses eligible for scholarships over the next 20 years. The Foundation continues to seek donations from a wide variety of sources to meet those requirements.

For more information about the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation and ways to donate, please visit: https://www.ciamemorialfoundation.org/donate

Educational Assistance for Youth

Parent holding their child's hand walking them to school

The CIA family does not forget its fallen colleagues and proudly looks after those they leave behind. Thanks to the generosity of people just like you, the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation continues to expand its program of educational assistance to a broader range of deserving CIA families.

For the academic year 2020-2021, the Foundation awarded scholarships and other educational support, totaling $1,546,541 for 68 family members of deceased CIA officers to attend colleges and universities around the country. This amount now includes Master’s Degree programs for a select number of graduate students.

The Foundation provides educational support to the following categories of surviving CIA family members:

  • The children and spouses of CIA officers and contractors of the CIA who were killed in the line of duty in hostile operational environments around the world and who are honored on the Wall of Stars at CIA Headquarters. These children and spouses are known as Memorial Star Students.
  • The children and spouses of CIA officers who died while on active duty from accident, illness or other causes; and the children and spouses of CIA officers who died within two years of a medical disability retirement, as a result of a fatal illness incurred while on active duty. These students are considered Financial Need Students.

The Foundation scholarships include funds for students attending college, either full-time or part-time. Students who attend full-time are also eligible for the costs of dorms or apartments if living off campus, meal plans or groceries, and books.