Who Is Gina Haspel? Age, Biography and Wiki
Gina Haspel was born on October 1, 1956, which makes her 69 years old as of 2025. She served as the first female Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from May 2018 until January 2021. Haspel's career spans over three decades in the U.S. intelligence community, where she has played pivotal roles in various operations. Her tenure has often been surrounded by controversy, particularly due to her involvement in the CIA’s enhanced interrogation program.
Occupation | Directors |
---|---|
Date of Birth | October 1, 1956 |
Age | 68 Years |
Birth Place | Ashland, Kentucky, U.S. |
Horoscope | Libra |
Country | U.S |
Popularity
Gina Haspel's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
As of 2025, Gina Haspel stands at an estimated height of 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) and weighs around 140 pounds (63 kg). While her specific measurements are not publicly disclosed, her health and fitness seem to be well-maintained, reflecting a disciplined lifestyle.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Gina Haspel is known to be private about her personal life. As of 2025, there have been no public declarations about her dating status. Her wedding to her husband, whom she married many years ago, has not been widely discussed. Haspel is known to value her privacy, and details about her family life remain relatively unknown.
In late October 2002, Haspel became a chief of base for a "black site" CIA prison located in Thailand. She worked at a site that was codenamed "Cat's Eye", which would later become known as the place where suspected al Qaeda terrorist members Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri and Abu Zubaydah were detained and tortured with waterboarding.
In early February 2017, The New York Times and ProPublica reported that these waterboardings were both conducted under Haspel. In March 2018, US officials said Haspel was not involved in the torture of Zubaydah, as she only became chief of base after Zubaydah was tortured.
ProPublica and The New York Times issued corrections to their stories but noted that Haspel was involved in the torture of al-Nashiri.
In August 2018, cables from the site, dating from November 2002 and likely authorized by if not written by Haspel, were released due to a Freedom of Information lawsuit, and described the torture of Nashiri in detail, including slamming him against a wall, confining him to a small box, waterboarding him, and depriving him of sleep and clothing, whi
le threatening to turn him over to others who would kill him.
Interrogators involved would also call Nashiri "a little girl", "a spoiled little rich Saudi", and a "sissy".
Net Worth and Salary
Gina Haspel's net worth is estimated to be around $3 million as of 2025. This wealth stems from her extensive career in intelligence and her role as a high-ranking official in the CIA. The average salary for CIA directors can range from $150,000 to over $200,000 annually, contributing significantly to her financial status over the years.
Career, Business and Investments
Gina Haspel's career began in the CIA in 1985, focusing on various intelligence operations globally. She has held numerous leadership positions, where she showcased her operational and strategic skills. Despite facing criticism, Haspel has been a key figure in shaping intelligence policies and practices.
Post-CIA, Haspel has been involved in various consultancy and advisory roles for private organizations, leveraging her expertise in national security. Her insights into intelligence operations have made her a sought-after speaker and consultant within governmental and private sectors.
In 2013, John Brennan, then the director of Central Intelligence, named Haspel as acting director of the National Clandestine Service, which carries out covert operations around the globe. However, she was not appointed to the position permanently due to criticism about her involvement in the Rendition, Detention and Interrogation program.
Her permanent appointment was opposed by Dianne Feinstein and others in the Senate.
Social Network
Gina Haspel is not very active on social media, reflecting her preference for privacy. However, she can be found on platforms like LinkedIn, where she connects with professionals in her field. Her public appearances mainly focus on educational and governmental events rather than personal social media engagement.
More than 50 former senior U.S. government officials, including six former Directors of the CIA and three former directors of national intelligence, signed a letter supporting her nomination.
They included former Directors of the CIA John Brennan, Leon Panetta and Michael Morell, former Director of the NSA and CIA Michael Hayden, and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
In April, a group of 109 retired generals and admirals signed a letter expressing "profound concern" over Haspel's nomination due to her record and alleged involvement in the CIA's use of torture and the subsequent destruction of evidence.
Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting criticized press coverage that portrayed Haspel's nomination as a victory for feminism. On May 10, The Washington Post Editorial Board expressed its opposition to Haspel's nomination for not condemning the CIA's now-defunct torture program as immoral.
On May 12, the first two Senate Democrats, Joe Donnelly of Indiana and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, announced their support for Haspel's nomination.
Education
Gina Haspel graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1978. She later attended various CIA training programs over her career, which equipped her with the skills necessary for her roles in intelligence and operations. Her commitment to continuous learning has allowed her to adapt to the evolving landscape of global intelligence.
In conclusion, Gina Haspel remains a significant and complex figure in American intelligence. As we look ahead in 2025, her legacy in the CIA and her contributions to national security will undoubtedly be discussed for years to come.
Haspel attended high school in the United Kingdom. She was a student at the University of Kentucky for three years and transferred for her senior year to the University of Louisville, where she graduated in May 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in languages and journalism.
From 1980 to 1981, she worked as a civilian library coordinator at Fort Devens in Massachusetts. She received a paralegal certificate from Northeastern University in 1982 and worked as a paralegal until she was hired by the CIA.