Robert Gates is an American public official and author who served as the Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011 under both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama. He played a significant role in shaping U.S. military policy during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and was known for his pragmatic approach to defense issues. Before his tenure as Secretary of Defense, Gates held various positions in government, including Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 1991 to 1993. He has also been involved in academia, serving as the president of Texas A&M University from 2002 to 2006.