Ermal P. Geiss

GEISS ERMAL P. GEISS (Age 93) Passed peacefully at home on September 7, 2010. Ermal a charter member of the Central Intelligence Agency was the Agency''s first Chief of Personal Security where he protected the Agency from known penetration from 1947 until moving to broader responsibility in 1961. After graduation from the National War College in 1962, he established the Office of Security''s Special Security Center where he made Interdepartmental security policy for access to highly sensitive, compartmented security information. He later became the Deputy Director of the Agency''s Office of Security. Before World War II, as a Special Agent in the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Geiss received investigative training under the tutelage of the former FBI Agent, Donald Nicholson who served on the squad which captured John Dillinger. During WWII he served in General Mac Arthur''s Headquarters for two years as Chief of Counter Intelligence Investigations in the U.S. Army''s Counter Intelligence Corps, for which he received the Bronze Star metal. During the Linguyen Golf Operation in the Philippines, upon learning of an emergency medical evacuation of a soldier from ship to shore, he, accompanied by two volunteer Special Agents of his CIC detachment, disembarked early to establish an Area Counter Intelligence Office in the city of Dagupan. He concluded his active duty in Tokyo, Japan as Lt. Col. in the office of Asst. Chief of Staff G-2 Gen. Wiloughby. After discharge from the Army, he established a Compliance Office in Miami, Florida for the Civilian Production Administration with emphasis on preventing the illegal use of scarce building materials badly need for veteran''s housing. As High School valedictorian in Wadesville IN he went on to receive a BS Degree in Business from Indiana University; then, in mid-career a Master of Arts Degree in Internal Affairs from George Washington University. He actively served as Trustee, Member of Administrative Boards and other key positions in three Methodist Churches in Virginia. He is survived by his wife of 68 years Irene, his son Philip, his wife Kimberly and their sons Jonathan and Joseph. Memorial services Saturday, September 11, 1 p.m. at Annandale United Methodist Church with a reception following the service. Burial will be forthcoming at Arlington National Cemetery. Arrangements by DEMAINE FUNERAL HOME, SPRINGFIELD, VA.