Director of the Central Intelligence Agency explained

Post:Director
Body:the Central Intelligence Agency
Insignia:Seal of the Central Intelligence Agency.svg
Insigniacaption:Seal of the Central Intelligence Agency
Flag:Flag of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.svg
Flagcaption:Flag of the Central Intelligence Agency
Incumbent:William J. Burns
Incumbentsince:March 19, 2021
Department:Central Intelligence Agency
Abbreviation:D/CIA
Reports To:Director of National Intelligence (DNI)
Seat:George Bush Center for Intelligence, Langley, Fairfax County, Virginia
Appointer:President
Appointer Qualified:with Senate advice and consent
Termlength:No fixed term
Precursor:Director of Central Intelligence
Formation:December 17, 2004
First:Porter J. Goss
Deputy:Deputy director
Salary:$203,700 Executive Schedule, Level II

The director of the Central Intelligence Agency (D/CIA) is a statutory office 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[1] nominated by the president of the United States, with the recommendation from the DNI,[2] and must be confirmed by a majority vote of the United States Senate.[3]

History

Before April 21, 2005, 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 (NSC). On April 21, 2005, the director of national intelligence (DNI) took on the roles of head of the Intelligence Community and principal intelligence advisor to the president and the NSC.

The post of DCI was established in 1946 by President Harry S. Truman;[4] 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).[5] Truman soon recognized the inefficiency of this arrangement and created the Central Intelligence Group,[6] which could be considered a smaller precursor to the National Security Council.[7] 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.[8] In July 2023, the D/CIA was once again elevated to Cabinet of the United States level status by the Biden administration.[9]

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.[10]

No.Title
Deputy director
Chief operating officer
Deputy director of CIA for operations
Deputy director of CIA for analysis
Deputy director of CIA for science and technology
Deputy director of CIA for digital innovation
Deputy director of CIA for support
General counsel
Deputy chief operating officer
Senior CIA representative for the United Kingdom
Senior CIA representative for the East Coast
Senior CIA representative for the West Coast

List of directors

Position succeeded the director of Central Intelligence.

No.class=unsortable ImageNameStartEndPresident
1[11]
(2001–2009)
2[12]
3[13]
(2009–2017)

4[14]

5[15]


(2017–2021)
6[16]
7


(2021–present)
8Incumbent

See also

Notes and References

  1. Officers serving in certain intelligence positions: military status; exclusion from distribution and strength limitations; pay and allowances
  2. Appointment of officials responsible for intelligence-related activities
  3. Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
  4. Web site: A Look Back … The National Security Act of 1947 — Central Intelligence Agency. www.cia.gov. en. February 6, 2017. May 8, 2019. 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. dead.
  5. Web site: Office of Strategic Services facts, information, pictures Encyclopedia.com articles about Office of Strategic Services. www.encyclopedia.com. en. February 6, 2017.
  6. Web site: The Organizational Arrangements for the Intelligence Community. www.gpo.gov. February 6, 2017.
  7. News: Truman signs the National Security Act - Jul 26, 1947 - HISTORY.com. HISTORY.com. February 6, 2017.
  8. Web site: The Cabinet . February 3, 2021 . www.whitehouse.gov.
  9. News: Biden Elevates CIA Director To Become a Member of the Cabinet . The New York Times . July 21, 2023 . July 21, 2023 . Shear . Michael D. .
  10. Web site: Memorandum on Providing an Order of Succession Within the Central Intelligence Agency – The White House. trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov.
  11. Web site: Porter Johnston Goss . Central Intelligence Agency – Library . February 22, 2017 . September 23, 2020 . 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 . dead.
  12. Web site: Michael Vincent Hayden . Central Intelligence Agency – Library . February 22, 2017 . August 4, 2019 . 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 . dead.
  13. Web site: Leon Edward Panetta. Central Intelligence Agency – Library . February 22, 2017 . August 4, 2019. 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 . dead.
  14. Web site: David Howell Petraeus . Central Intelligence Agency – Library. February 22, 2017 . August 4, 2019 . 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 . dead.
  15. Web site: John O. Brennan . Central Intelligence Agency – Leadership . February 25, 2017 . July 22, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190722222938/https://www.cia.gov/about-cia/leadership/john-o-brennan.html . dead.
  16. Web site: Mike Pompeo . Central Intelligence Agency – Leadership . February 25, 2017 . April 9, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190409155419/https://www.cia.gov/about-cia/leadership/mike-pompeo.html . dead.