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Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

{{Short description|Head of the US federal agency}}

{{Distinguish|Director of Central Intelligence}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox official post

| post = Director

| body = the Central Intelligence Agency

| insignia = Seal of the Central Intelligence Agency.svg

| insigniasize =

| insigniacaption = Seal of the Central Intelligence Agency

| flag = Flag of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.svg

| flagsize =

| flagborder =

| flagcaption = Flag of the Central Intelligence Agency

| image = Official Portrait of CIA Director John Ratcliffe.webp

| alt =

| incumbent = John Ratcliffe

| incumbentsince = January 23, 2025

| acting = no

| department = Central Intelligence Agency

| style =

| type =

| status =

| abbreviation = D/CIA

| member_of =

| reports_to = Director of National Intelligence (DNI)

| residence =

| seat = George Bush Center for Intelligence, Langley, Fairfax County, Virginia

| nominator =

| appointer = President

| appointer_qualified = with Senate advice and consent

| termlength = No fixed term

| termlength_qualified =

| constituting_instrument = {{UnitedStatesCode|50|3036}}

| precursor = Director of Central Intelligence (DCI)

| formation = December 17, 2004

| first = Porter J. Goss

| last =

| abolished =

| succession =

| unofficial_names =

| deputy = Deputy director

| salary = $225,700 Executive Schedule, Level II{{UnitedStatesCode|5|5313}}

| website = {{url|www.cia.gov}}

}}

The director of the Central Intelligence Agency (D/CIA) is a statutory office ({{UnitedStatesCode|50|3036}}) that functions as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, which in turn is a part of the United States Intelligence Community.

The director reports to the director of national intelligence (DNI) and is assisted by the deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency (DD/CIA). The director is a civilian or a general or flag officer of the United States Armed Forces{{UnitedStatesCode|10|528}} Officers serving in certain intelligence positions: military status; exclusion from distribution and strength limitations; pay and allowances nominated by the president of the United States, with the recommendation from the DNI,{{UnitedStatesCode|50|403-6}} Appointment of officials responsible for intelligence-related activities and must be confirmed by a majority vote of the United States Senate.{{UnitedStatesCode|50|3036}} Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

History

{{further|Director of National Intelligence}}

Before December 17, 2004 the director of central intelligence (DCI) headed both the Intelligence Community and the Central Intelligence Agency. In addition, DCI served as an advisor to the president of the United States on intelligence matters and was the statutory intelligence advisor to the National Security Council.

The post of DCI was established in 1946 by President Harry S. Truman;{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2008-featured-story-archive/national-security-act-of-1947.html|title=A Look Back … The National Security Act of 1947 — Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|language=en|access-date=February 6, 2017|archive-date=May 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508181632/https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2008-featured-story-archive/national-security-act-of-1947.html|url-status=dead}} it thus predates the establishment of the Central Intelligence Agency (created by the National Security Act of 1947). After the end of World War II, the Office of Strategic Services was dismantled. Its functions were split between the departments of state and war (now defense).{{Cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/history/united-states-and-canada/us-history/office-strategic-services|title=Office of Strategic Services facts, information, pictures {{!}} Encyclopedia.com articles about Office of Strategic Services|website=www.encyclopedia.com|language=en|access-date=February 6, 2017}} Truman soon recognized the inefficiency of this arrangement and created the Central Intelligence Group,{{Cite web|url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-INTELLIGENCE/html/int009.html|title=The Organizational Arrangements for the Intelligence Community|website=www.gpo.gov|access-date=February 6, 2017}} which could be considered a smaller precursor to the National Security Council.{{Cite news|url=http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/truman-signs-the-national-security-act|title=Truman signs the National Security Act - Jul 26, 1947 - HISTORY.com|newspaper=HISTORY.com|access-date=February 6, 2017}} The following year the National Security Act of 1947 created the Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Council, while formally defining the duties of the director of Central Intelligence. The duties of the DCI had been further defined over the years by tradition, congressional acts, and Executive Orders.

Beginning in February 2017, the D/CIA was elevated to Cabinet of the United States level status, as designated by the Trump administration. This ended with the beginning of the Biden administration.{{Cite web |title=The Cabinet |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/the-cabinet/ |access-date=February 3, 2021 |website=White House}} In July 2023, the D/CIA was once again elevated to Cabinet of the United States level status by the Biden administration.{{Cite news | title=Biden Elevates CIA Director To Become a Member of the Cabinet |work=The New York Times |date=July 21, 2023 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/21/us/politics/cia-director-burns-cabinet.html |access-date=July 21, 2023 |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. }}

Order of succession

The order of succession determines which official shall act and perform the functions and duties of the director in the event the director dies, resigns, or otherwise becomes unable to perform their duties. The official will serve as acting director.

If the official is already serving in an acting capacity, or otherwise not eligible under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, the order skips to the next person in line. However, the president of the United States retains discretion to depart from the list in designating an acting director.{{Cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/memorandum-providing-order-succession-within-central-intelligence-agency/|title=Memorandum on Providing an Order of Succession Within the Central Intelligence Agency – The White House|website=trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov}}

class=wikitable
No.

!Title

{{Center|1}}

|Deputy director

{{Center|2}}

|Chief operating officer

{{Center|3}}

|Deputy director of CIA for operations

{{Center|4}}

|Deputy director of CIA for analysis

{{Center|5}}

|Deputy director of CIA for science and technology

{{Center|6}}

|Deputy director of CIA for digital innovation

{{Center|7}}

|Deputy director of CIA for support

{{Center|8}}

|General counsel

{{Center|9}}

|Deputy chief operating officer

{{Center|10}}

|Senior CIA representative for the United Kingdom

{{Center|11}}

|Senior CIA representative for the East Coast

{{Center|12}}

|Senior CIA representative for the West Coast

List of directors

Position succeeded the director of Central Intelligence.

class="toccolours"

|{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes acting capacity.}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
No.

!class=unsortable |Image

!Name

!Start

!End

!Duration

! colspan="2" |President

1

|70px

|{{sortname|Porter|Goss}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/directors-and-deputy-directors-of-cia/porter-johnston-goss.html |title=Porter Johnston Goss |work=Central Intelligence Agency – Library |access-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-date=September 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923024240/https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/directors-and-deputy-directors-of-cia/porter-johnston-goss.html |url-status=dead}}

|{{dts|December 17, 2004}}

|{{dts|May 5, 2006}}

|1 year, 24 days

| rowspan="2" style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|George W.|Bush}}
(2001–2009)

2

|70px

|{{sortname|Michael|Hayden|dab=general}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/directors-and-deputy-directors-of-cia/michael-vincent-hayden.html|title=Michael Vincent Hayden |work=Central Intelligence Agency – Library |access-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804230031/https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/directors-and-deputy-directors-of-cia/michael-vincent-hayden.html |url-status=dead}}

|{{dts|May 30, 2006}}

|{{dts|February 12, 2009}}

|2 years, 260 days

3

|70px

|{{sortname|Leon|Panetta}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/directors-and-deputy-directors-of-cia/leon-edward-panetta.html |title=Leon Edward Panetta|work=Central Intelligence Agency – Library |access-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-date=August 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804230038/https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/directors-and-deputy-directors-of-cia/leon-edward-panetta.html |url-status=dead}}

|{{dts|February 13, 2009}}

|{{dts|June 30, 2011}}

|2 years, 138 days

| rowspan="5" style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=5 |{{sortname|Barack|Obama}}
(2009–2017)

style="background:#e6e6aa;" |–

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |70px

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Michael|Morell}}
{{small|Acting}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|July 1, 2011}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|September 6, 2011}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |68 days

4

|70px

|{{sortname|David|Petraeus}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/directors-and-deputy-directors-of-cia/david-howell-petraeus.html |title=David Howell Petraeus |work=Central Intelligence Agency – Library|access-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804230042/https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/directors-and-deputy-directors-of-cia/david-howell-petraeus.html |url-status=dead}}

|{{dts|September 6, 2011}}

|{{dts|November 9, 2012}}

|1 year, 66 days

style="background:#e6e6aa;" |–

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |70px

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Michael|Morell}}
{{small|Acting}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|November 9, 2012}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|March 8, 2013}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |130 days

5

|70px

|{{sortname|John|Brennan|dab=CIA officer}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/about-cia/leadership/john-o-brennan.html|title=John O. Brennan |work=Central Intelligence Agency – Leadership |access-date=February 25, 2017 |archive-date=July 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722222938/https://www.cia.gov/about-cia/leadership/john-o-brennan.html |url-status=dead}}

|{{dts|March 8, 2013}}

|{{dts|January 20, 2017}}

|3 years, 320 days

style="background:#e6e6aa;" |–

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |70px

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Meroe|Park}}
{{small|Acting}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|January 20, 2017}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|January 23, 2017}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |3 days

| rowspan="4" style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=4 |{{sortname|Donald|Trump}}
(2017–2021)

6

|70px

|{{sortname|Mike|Pompeo}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/about-cia/leadership/mike-pompeo.html |title=Mike Pompeo |work=Central Intelligence Agency – Leadership |access-date=February 25, 2017 |archive-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409155419/https://www.cia.gov/about-cia/leadership/mike-pompeo.html |url-status=dead}}

|{{dts|January 23, 2017}}

|{{dts|April 26, 2018}}

|1 year, 94 days

rowspan=2 |7

|rowspan=2 |70px

|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Gina|Haspel}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|April 26, 2018}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|May 21, 2018}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |26 days

{{dts|May 21, 2018}}

|{{dts|January 20, 2021}}

|2 years, 245 days

style="background:#e6e6aa;" |–

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |70px

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|David|Cohen|David S. Cohen (attorney)}}
{{small|Acting}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|January 20, 2021}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|March 19, 2021}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |59 days

| rowspan="2" style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Joe|Biden}}
(2021–2025)

8

|70px

|{{sortname|Bill|Burns|William J. Burns (diplomat)}}

|{{dts|March 19, 2021}}

|{{dts|January 20, 2025}}

|3 years, 308 days

style="background:#e6e6aa;" |–

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |

{{sortname|Maura|Burns}}{{Cite web |date=January 20, 2025|title=Maura Burns Named Acting CIA Director Until Ratcliffe Confirmation |url= https://www.inkl.com/news/maura-burns-named-acting-cia-director-until-ratcliffe-confirmation |access-date=May 20, 2025|website=Inkl }}
{{small|Acting}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|January 20, 2025}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|January 20, 2025}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in years and days|January 20, 2025|January 20, 2025}}

| rowspan="3" style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Donald|Trump}}
(2025–present)

style="background:#e6e6aa;" |–

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{sortname|Tom|Sylvester}}
{{small|Acting}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|January 20, 2025}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{dts|January 23, 2025}}

|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{age in years and days|January 20, 2025|January 23, 2025}}

9

|70px

|{{sortname|John|Ratcliffe}}

|{{dts|January 23, 2025}}

|Incumbent

|{{age in years and days|January 23, 2025}}

See also

{{Portal|United States}}

References

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Central Intelligence Agency}}

{{DCIA}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Director Of The Central Intelligence Agency}}

*

Category:2005 establishments in the United States