McCone, John A

American manager, director of the Central Intelligence Agency 1961-1965, during initial exploitation of satellite reconnaissance systems.

John A. McCone began his career as a construction engineer in 1929 and became executive vice president and director of the Consolidated Steel Corporation, 1933-1937. He was organizer and president of Bechtel-McCone Corporation (an engineering firm), 1937-1945, and subsequently served as a business executive with several other firms. He worked in the Defense Department from 1948 to 1951 and as chairman of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, 1958- 1960. He was appointed director of the Central Intelligence Agency in 1961 and remained in that position until 1965.