From 1982 until 1986, Sullivan was the general counsel of the National Reconnaissance Office, a then secret US satellite intelligence agency). In addition, in 1984–1986, he was the governor of Wake Island, the U.S. possession in the Pacific.
Sullivan held key roles from 1982 to 1986: as general counsel for the National Reconnaissance Office, a clandestine US satellite intelligence agency at the time, and later as governor of Wake Island, the U.S. Pacific territory he oversaw from 1984 to 1986.