Albert Haney

Early Life and Education

Albert Richard Haney was born on July 7, 1914, in Denver, Colorado. A native of the American West, he pursued higher education at prestigious institutions, attending Northwestern University and Boston College. These academic experiences laid the foundation for his analytical skills and disciplined approach, which would define his military and intelligence career.

Military Career

Haney embarked on his military journey in 1941, joining the U.S. Army as the United States entered World War II. During the war, he served with Army counterintelligence in Panama, a critical region for securing the Panama Canal and monitoring regional threats. His work in counterintelligence honed his expertise in gathering and analyzing sensitive information, a skill that would prove invaluable throughout his career.

Following World War II, Haney continued his service during the Korean War, where he conducted intelligence operations in Korea. His ability to navigate complex geopolitical environments led to assignments as a military attaché in Ecuador, Peru, and Chile, where he represented U.S. interests and gathered strategic insights. Later, he served as deputy chief of the Composite Plans Group with the U.S. Army European Command, a role that involved high-level strategic planning during the Cold War.

Haney’s 31-year military career culminated in his retirement in 1972 at the rank of Colonel. His service was recognized with several accolades, including the prestigious Distinguished Intelligence Medal, awarded for exceptional contributions to national security.

CIA Career

Parallel to his military service, Haney spent much of his career as an intelligence analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). His work with the CIA likely overlapped with his military assignments, given the agency’s reliance on military personnel for intelligence operations during the mid-20th century. Haney’s analytical expertise contributed to U.S. intelligence efforts during a period marked by global tensions, including the Cold War and regional conflicts in Latin America and Asia. Specific details of his CIA work remain limited, as is typical with intelligence roles, but his long tenure suggests significant contributions to national security.

Personal Life

Haney’s personal life included two marriages. His first marriage to Irene Budlong Haney ended in divorce. He later married Ellen Gay Frederick Haney, who survived him. From his first marriage, he had two children, Thomas Haney and Cornelia Parkes. He also became a stepfather to four children from his second marriage: Walter Voisinet, Deborah Erb, Paula Thompson, and Susan Flexsenhar.

Haney was a resident of the Washington, D.C., area intermittently from the late 1940s, reflecting his military and CIA postings. In 1972, he relocated to Sarasota, Florida, where he spent his retirement years.

Death and Legacy

Albert Richard Haney passed away on January 2, 1998, at the age of 83, in a Sarasota, Florida, hospital following a heart attack. He was laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on January 21, 1998, a fitting tribute to his decades of service. His grave is documented in Arlington National Cemetery records.