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Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

Head of the US federal agency

Field	Value
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
image	Official Portrait of CIA Director John Ratcliffe.webp
incumbent	John Ratcliffe
incumbentsince	January 23, 2025
acting	no
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	The president
appointer_qualified	with Senate advice and consent
termlength	No fixed term
constituting_instrument
precursor	Director of Central Intelligence (DCI)
formation	December 17, 2004
first	Porter J. Goss
deputy	Deputy director
salary	$225,700 Executive Schedule, Level II
website

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 nominated by the president of the United States, with the recommendation from the DNI, and must be confirmed by a majority vote of the United States Senate.

History

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; 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. Truman soon recognized the inefficiency of this arrangement and created the Central Intelligence Group, which could be considered a smaller precursor to the National Security Council. 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. In July 2023, the D/CIA was once again elevated to Cabinet of the United States level status by the Biden administration.

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.

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.	Image	Name	Start	End	Duration	President
1	[[File:Porter J. Goss official CIA portrait (cropped).jpg	70px]]				1 year, 24 days	Republican Party (United States)}};"
2	[[File:Michael Hayden, CIA official portrait (cropped).jpg	70px]]				2 years, 260 days
3	[[File:Leon Panetta official portrait (cropped).jpg	70px]]				2 years, 138 days	Democratic Party (United States)}};"
–	[[File:CIA Michael Morell (cropped).jpg	70px]]
Acting			68 days
4	[[File:DCIA David Petraeus (cropped).jpg	70px]]				1 year, 66 days
–	[[File:CIA Michael Morell (cropped).jpg	70px]]
Acting			130 days
5	[[File:John Brennan CIA official portrait (cropped).jpg	70px]]				3 years, 320 days
–	[[File:Meroe Park.jpg	70px]]
Acting			3 days	Republican Party (United States)}};"
6	[[File:Mike Pompeo CIA headshot.jpg	70px]]				1 year, 94 days
7	[[File:Gina Haspel official CIA portrait (cropped).jpg	70px]]				26 days
		2 years, 245 days
–	[[File:David Cohen official CIA portrait.jpg	70px]]
Acting			59 days	Democratic Party (United States)}};"
8	[[File:CIA Director Burns.jpg	70px]]				3 years, 308 days
–					Republican Party (United States)}};"
(2025–present)
–
Acting
9	[[File:Official Portrait of CIA Director John Ratcliffe.webp	70px]]			Incumbent

References

{{UnitedStatesCode. 5. 5313
{{UnitedStatesCode. 10. 528 Officers serving in certain intelligence positions: military status; exclusion from distribution and strength limitations; pay and allowances
{{UnitedStatesCode. 50. 403-6 Appointment of officials responsible for intelligence-related activities
{{UnitedStatesCode. 50. 3036 Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
"A Look Back … The National Security Act of 1947 — Central Intelligence Agency".
"Office of Strategic Services facts, information, pictures {{!}} Encyclopedia.com articles about Office of Strategic Services".
"The Organizational Arrangements for the Intelligence Community".
"Truman signs the National Security Act - Jul 26, 1947 - HISTORY.com". HISTORY.com.
"The Cabinet".
(July 21, 2023). "Biden Elevates CIA Director To Become a Member of the Cabinet". The New York Times.
"Memorandum on Providing an Order of Succession Within the Central Intelligence Agency – The White House".
"Porter Johnston Goss". Central Intelligence Agency – Library.
"Michael Vincent Hayden". Central Intelligence Agency – Library.
"Leon Edward Panetta". Central Intelligence Agency – Library.
"David Howell Petraeus". Central Intelligence Agency – Library.
"John O. Brennan". Central Intelligence Agency – Leadership.
"Mike Pompeo". Central Intelligence Agency – Leadership.
(January 20, 2025). "Maura Burns Named Acting CIA Director Until Ratcliffe Confirmation".

Info: Wikipedia Source

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