Michael S. McHenry

Michael S. McHenry, retired Senior Intelligence Officer, passed away peacefully at home in Arlington, Virginia, on October 8, 2025. Michael was raised in Washington, DC, and graduated from Georgetown Day School. He graduated from Amherst College (Massachusetts), attended Oxford University, earned a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College.

A career national security professional and Arabist, he served multiple tours in the Middle East and was awarded the Intelligence Star (for Valor). From 2002 – 2008, he provided intelligence support to US military operations in Iraq. He retired in 2012 at the completion of his service as Special Advisor to the Commanding General and Command Group, US Central Command.

An excellent chef, in his youth Michael cooked at the restaurant Maison Robert in Boston. At each of his foreign postings, he sampled (and learned to cook) multiple cuisines. After retirement, he enjoyed taking classes at "the other CIA" (Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York). And he volunteered for several years at the cooking school L'Académie de Cuisine in Maryland. For more than 30 years, he was a member of the Confrérie de la Chaîne Des Rôtisseurs international association of gastronomy.

Michael joined the Glee Club at Amherst and later the Mastersingers male chorus formed in the 1990s by the former Glee Club director. Michael was pleased to be one of the Mastersingers who took first place in the male choir competition at the famous International Eisteddfod in Wales in 2003.

He volunteered at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History (both as a high school student and after retirement). He was passionate about military history, and he also volunteered at the National Museum of the United States Army.

He asked to be remembered by the words of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, "He did the best he could with what he had."

Michael treasured all the friends he made at work, school, volunteering, and hobbies. He was predeceased by his mother Mary Williamson McHenry. He is survived by his wife Janice, whom he loved for 40 years; his father Donald (Marine); sisters Christina and Elizabeth (Gene); five nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.