Allen Welsh Dulles Biography and Timeline

Deputy Director of Central Intelligence

Appointed Deputy Director of the CIA

Role range: 1951-1953

Deputy Director

Appointed Deputy Director of the CIA

Role range: 1953-1961

Director of Central Intelligence

Appointed Director of the CIA

Role range: 1953-1961

Western Hemisphere Branch Four Established

Dulles establishes a specialised CIA branch to organise covert operations against Castro.

Role range: 1960-1962 – 1953-1961

Cuban Exile Recruitment Begins

Dulles oversees CIA recruitment of anti-Castro Cuban exiles in Florida.

Role range: 1960-1962 – 1953-1961

Retalhuleu Air Base Developed

Dulles oversees development of a covert air-training base in Guatemala.

Role range: 1960-1962 – 1953-1961

President-Elect Briefing Led

Dulles leads the first detailed briefing of Kennedy on the Cuban project.

Role range: 1960-1962 – 1953-1961

Senate Foreign Relations Briefing

Dulles briefs a closed Senate Foreign Relations Committee session on the Cuban exile programme.

Role range: 1960-1962

Cuban Revolutionary Council (CRC)

CIA helps Cuban exiles create the Cuban Revolutionary Council.

Invasion Situation Briefed after Return

Dulles is briefed late on the invasion crisis, including men ashore, undelivered supplies and two ships lost to Cuban aircraft.

Role range: 1960-1962

Cuba Study Group

Serves on the Cuba Study Group even as CIA leadership comes under criticism for the failed invasion

Role range: 1960-1962 – 1953-1961

Cuba Study Group

Kennedy forms the Cuba Study Group to review the failed invasion.

Cuba Study Group Hearings

Defends CIA organization and planning before post-invasion reviewers

Role range: 1960-1962 – 1953-1961

CIA Leadership Departure after Bay of Pigs

Dulles leaves the CIA after the Bay of Pigs failure and the administration's subsequent review of Agency leadership.

Role range: 1960-1962

Coup

Assures Kennedy that invasion of Cuba will result in the overthrow of Castro

Role range: 1953-1961

Commission

Appointed member of the Warren Commission by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

Dulles serves on the Warren Commission after leaving CIA leadership.

Commission Service

Continues as a member of the Warren Commission and remains involved in questions about CIA evidence supplied to the inquiry.