Obituary of Mark Mansfield

MARK T. MANSFIELD, 56 Mark Mansfield, who during a Central Intelligence Agency career spanning more than 31 years, served in public affairs capacities for nine CIA Directors, died the evening of January 21, 2015 from complications of kidney disease in Miami, Florida. He was 56. Mansfield's most recent agency assignment was as an Officer-in-Residence at the University of Miami, where he taught courses on CIA and intelligence from the fall of 2009 until the spring of 2013. After retiring from the federal government in July 2013, he taught at the university for one more semester. Mansfield served as CIA's Director of Public Affairs from July 2006 until May 2009, working directly for former CIA Director General Michael Hayden. Prior to that, he had been assigned for a year to the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), where he also served as Director of Public Affairs. Mansfield held various positions in CIA's Public Affairs Office. He served as Deputy Director of Public Affairs from 1997 to 2004 and, prior to that, served as Chief of Media Relations, as a CIA spokesman and as a speechwriter for the Director. In 1992-93, he supervised an analytical branch in the Directorate of Intelligence. He began his CIA career as an editor with what was then the Foreign Broadcast Information Service. Mansfield was a 2005 recipient of the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the CIA's highest award for service. He received the "Director's Award" from former CIA Directors Michael Hayden and George Tenet. A native of northern New Jersey, Mansfield received his Bachelor of Arts in political science from Rutgers University in 1980 and a Master's from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1982. He always had a sense of adventure, which inspired him to travel the world. While battling both kidney disease and diabetes, Mark still maintained his sharp wit and zest for life. In lieu of flowers, friends may donate to the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation in Mark's memory at https://diabetesresearch.org/donate-now. He is survived by his daughter, Lauren Mansfield, of Herndon, VA; and two brothers, Gregory of New York, NY and Paul of Wynnewood, PA. The viewing and funeral arrangements are scheduled as follows: Viewing at Frank Patti Funeral Home (327 Main Street, Fort Lee, NJ 07024) on Friday, January 30, 2015 from 4-8 p.m. Funeral mass at The Historic Madonna Church on the Hill (2070 Hoefleys Lane, Fort Lee, NJ 07024) on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 11 a.m.