Brett M. Holmgren Explained

Brett Holmgren
Office:Acting Director of the National Counterterrorism Center
President:Joe Biden
Term Start:July 5, 2024
Predecessor:Christine Abizaid
Birth Name:Brett Michael Holmgren
Birth Date:June 30, 1981 [1]
Birth Place:Minneapolis, Minnesota
Party:Democratic
Education:University of Wisconsin, Madison (BA)
Johns Hopkins University (MA)
Office1:21st Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research
Successor1:Lisa Kenna
Predecessor1:Ellen E. McCarthy
Termstart1:September 15, 2021
Termend1:July 5, 2024 [2]
President1:Joe Biden

Brett Michael Holmgren is an American intelligence official who had served assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research in the Biden administration.[3] He currently serves as the acting director for the National Counterterrorism Center. [4]

Education

Holmgren earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and journalism from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Master of Arts degree, summa cum laude, in global security studies from Johns Hopkins University.[5] [6]

Career

For fourteen years Holmgren held top leadership positions the Intelligence Community (IC), in the White House and at the Department of Defense, including three years in the private industry, before becoming Assistant Secretary.[7] He began his government service as a counterterrorism analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency and served as the special assistant to the deputy secretary of defense, director for counterterrorism at the United States National Security Council, and a political analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency. He also served as special assistant to the president and senior director for intelligence programs at the National Security Council, where he also previously served as senior policy advisor to the Homeland Security advisor.[8] He was most recently the vice president for technology risk management at Capital One. He was also a deputy for nominations on the Biden–Harris transition team and co-chair of the intelligence working group for the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign.[5] On September 13, 2021, Holmgren was confirmed by the United States Senate by voice vote.[9] He was sworn in on September 15, 2021.[10] Holmgren appointed acting Director of National Counterterrorism Center on July 5, 2024.[11]

Awards and recognition

Holmgren is the recipient of numerous performance awards, including the National Intelligence Superior Service Medal, the Central Intelligence Agency Director's award, and the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award.[5]

Personal life

Holmgren grew up in Minnesota with his parents and three siblings.[12] Holmgren married lawyer and government official Dana Remus in 2018. Their wedding was officiated by Barack Obama.[13] [14] They have one son.

Notes and References

  1. https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/q-bholmgren-051821.pdf
  2. https://www.state.gov/biographies/brett-m-holmgren
  3. Web site: Intelligence. Office of the Director of National. Dept. of State Bureau of Intelligence and Research. September 15, 2021. www.intelligence.gov. en-US.
  4. Web site: DNI Haines Thanks NCTC Director Christy Abizaid, Welcomes Acting Director Brett Holmgren . 2024-08-15 . www.dni.gov.
  5. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/26/president-biden-announces-his-intent-to-nominate-key-members-for-the-department-of-state/ "President Biden Announces his Intent to Nominate Key Members for the Department of State" White House, March 26, 2021
  6. Web site: 9 September 2019. Holmgren, Brett. live. 2021-03-26. Department of Political Science. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20200808115751/https://polisci.wisc.edu/staff/holmgren-brett/ . 2020-08-08 .
  7. Web site: Brett M. Holmgren . 2022-05-06 . United States Department of State . en-US.
  8. Web site: Brett Holmgren on working inside the Oval College of Letters & Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison (en-US). 2021-03-26. ls.wisc.edu.
  9. Web site: September 13, 2021 . PN273 - Nomination of Brett M. Holmgren for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022) . September 17, 2021 . www.congress.gov.
  10. Web site: Brett M. Holmgren . September 17, 2021 . United States Department of State . en-US.
  11. https://www.dni.gov/index.php/nctc-who-we-are/director-nctc
  12. Web site: June 15, 2021 . Statement of Brett Holmgren Nominee for Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Senate Foreign Relations Committee . May 18, 2022 . foreign.senate.gov.
  13. News: Shear. Michael D.. November 18, 2020. Dana Remus Has Taken an Unlikely Path to the White House Counsel's Office. en-US. The New York Times. August 2, 2021. 0362-4331.
  14. Web site: January 23, 2018. President Obama Officiated at a Wedding in DC This Past Weekend Washingtonian (DC). August 2, 2021. Washingtonian. en-US.