Desmond FitzGerald (CIA officer)

Desmond FitzGerald (1910 – July 23, 1967) was a high-ranking American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer, known for his involvement in covert operations against Fidel Castro's Cuba.

FitzGerald graduated from Harvard University and Harvard Law School. During World War II, he served in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the CIA's predecessor.

After the war, he joined the CIA and steadily rose through the ranks. He became the head of the Special Affairs Staff (SAS), the division responsible for Cuban operations, in 1961. In this role, he oversaw numerous attempts to destabilize the Cuban government and assassinate Castro, including Operation Mongoose. These operations involved a variety of tactics, such as sabotage, propaganda, and support for anti-Castro insurgents.

FitzGerald's involvement in Operation Mongoose brought him into frequent contact with Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who was intensely interested in the Cuban issue. He also played a role in managing CIA assets in other parts of the world.

Following the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, direct attempts to assassinate Castro were officially curtailed, but covert operations against Cuba continued under FitzGerald's direction. He remained a key figure in U.S. policy toward Cuba until his death from a heart attack in 1967. His death occurred during a period of internal review of CIA activities, led by Inspector General John Earman. He is regarded as a controversial figure due to the ethically dubious nature of the covert actions he oversaw.