July 1, 1933–July 1, 2025
Hugh Frederick “Fred” Hutchinson, Jr., 92, a former officer in the U.S. Army and senior executive in the Central Intelligence Agency, passed away on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Fort Myers, FL.
Fred was born in Logan, WV, and spent his childhood in Lewisburg on Rock Acres Farm. He attended Lewisburg High School and Woodberry Forest School, and earned a B.A. from West Virginia University and an M.A. from Columbia University. He was elected president of his sophomore class at WVU and was active in student government.
He entered active duty as an infantry officer in 1955, attending the Basic Infantry Officers Course and Airborne School, and was the Distinguished Graduate of his Ranger School class. His early assignments included serving as a company commander, an infantry advisor to the Imperial Iranian Army, and holding company command and staff duties in the 82nd Airborne Division. During this period, he was often on special assignment in Latin America and the Middle East. He graduated from the Advanced Armor Officers Course and the Command and General Staff College, and served in Vietnam as an infantry officer with the 4th Infantry Division.
After an assignment at the Pentagon as the Defense Intelligence Agency liaison to the White House, Congress, and the National Security Council, Fred was detailed by the Army as special assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence and subsequently joined the Central Intelligence Agency as a senior executive. His CIA career included service as Vice Chairman and Acting Chairman of the National Intelligence Council. He made major contributions in intelligence analysis, technical and human intelligence collection, satellite imaging development, counterintelligence, and extensive liaison with foreign governments.
Fred’s work earned many personal accolades and formal awards. These included the U.S. Army Bronze Star Medal for Valor with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Ranger Tab, the CIA Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the CIA Seal Medallion, the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), and the CIA Meritorious Officer Award.
Fred was preceded in death by his father, Hugh Frederick Hutchinson Sr.; his mother, Nancy Lee Howes Hutchinson; and his brother, George Robert Hutchinson.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Sally Haislip Hutchinson; his son, Hugh Frederick Hutchinson III; his brothers, David Lee Hutchinson of Salem, VA, and Charles E. Hutchinson (Lynn) of Rush, KY; as well as many nieces and nephews. Burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
