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Updated March 19, 2019
U.S. Intelligence Community (IC): Appointment Dates and
Appointment Legal Provisions for Selected IC Leadership
This report provides the names and appointment provisions
(SASC) has jurisdiction over the confirmation of IC
for selected Intelligence Community (IC) senior officials, as
leadership positions inside the DOD. In some cases (e.g.,
reflected in U.S. Code, public laws, executive orders, and
the Directors of the National Security Agency and National
custom. Table 1 also includes the committees involved
Reconnaissance Office), nominations may be referred
when Senate confirmation is required. As a general rule, the
sequentially to the SSCI and the SASC, with the order of
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) has
referral depending on the nominee’s status as a member of
jurisdiction over the confirmation of those nominated to IC
the armed forces on active duty. If the nominee is active
leadership positions outside the Department of Defense
duty, the nomination begins with the SASC, if not, it begins
(DOD) while the Senate Armed Services Committee
with the SSCI.
Table 1. U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) Leadership: Appointment Dates and Legal Provisions
Element
Leadership Appointment Date
Appointment Legal Provisions
Non-Department of Defense (DOD)
Office of the Director of National
Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Daniel R.
50 U.S.C. §3026(c) “Not more than one of [the DNI and
Intelligence (ODNI)
Coats (sworn in March 16, 2017)
the Principal Deputy DNI] may be a commissioned
officer of the Armed Forces in active status”; §3023(a)
presidential y appointed and Senate confirmed (SSCI).
Central Intel igence Agency (CIA)
Director of the CIA (DCIA) Gina C. Haspel
50 U.S.C. §3041(a)(2)(B) DNI recommends; then,
(sworn in May 18, 2018)
pursuant to 50 U.S.C. §3036(a), presidential y appointed
and Senate confirmed (SSCI).
Department of Energy, Office of
Director, Office of Intel igence and
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(E&F) DOE Secretary needs DNI
Intelligence and Counterintelligence
Counterintelligence Steven K. Black (March 8,
to concur with recommendation; then pursuant to 50
(DOE/OICI)
2013)
U.S.C. §3041(b)(1), DOE Secretary appoints.
Department of Homeland Security,
Under Secretary for Intel igence and Analysis (U/S
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(I) DHS Secretary needs DNI to
Office of Intelligence and Analysis
IA) David J. Glawe (confirmed August 3, 2017)
concur with recommendation; then pursuant to 6 U.S.C.
(DHS/I&A)
§121(b)(1), presidential y appointed, Senate confirmed
(SSCI).
Department of Homeland Security,
Assistant Commandant for Intelligence (CG-2)
50 U.S.C. §3041(c)(2)(B) USCG Commandant
U.S. Coast Guard, Intelligence
RADM Robert P. Hayes (July 2016)
appoints, after consulting with the DNI.
Division (USCG/CG-2)
Department of Justice, Drug
Assistant Administrator and Chief of Intelligence
Senior Executive Appointments—5 U.S.C. §3151
Enforcement Administration, Office
Douglas W. Poole (2015)
establishes the FBI-DEA Senior Executive Service.
of National Security Intelligence
(DEA/ONSI)
Department of Justice, Federal
Executive Assistant Director for Intelligence
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(H) Attorney General needs DNI
Bureau of Investigation, Intelligence
Joshua D. Skule (June 23, 2016)
to concur with recommendation; then pursuant to 28
Branch (FBI/IB)
U.S.C. §532 note and §2002 of P.L. 108-458, Attorney
General appoints.
Department of Justice, National
Assistant Attorney General for National Security
50 U.S.C. §3041(c)(2)(C) Attorney General
Security Division (DOJ/NSD) (NSD is
John C. Demers (confirmed February 15, 2018)
recommends, after consulting with the DNI; then
not an official element of the IC.)
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §506 and S.Res. 470, 113th
Congress, presidential y appointed and Senate confirmed
(Senate Judiciary Committee and SSCI).
https://crsreports.congress.gov
U.S. Intelligence Community (IC): Appointment Dates and Appointment Legal Provisions for Selected IC Leadership
Element
Leadership Appointment Date
Appointment Legal Provisions
Department of State, Bureau of
Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(D) Secretary DOS needs DNI to
Intelligence and Research (DOS/INR)
Research Ellen E. McCarthy (sworn in January
concur with recommendation; then pursuant to 22
17, 2019)
U.S.C. §2651a (c)(1), presidential y appointed and Senate
confirmed (SSCI).
Department of the Treasury, Office
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Intel igence
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(G) Treasury Secretary needs DNI
of Terrorism and Financial
and Analysis Isabella Marie Keenan Patelunas
to concur with recommendation; then pursuant to 31
Intelligence (Treasury/OTFI)
(confirmed August 28, 2018)
U.S.C. §311(b) presidential y appointed and Senate
confirmed (SSCI).
Department of Defense
DOD-Wide
Office of the Under Secretary of
Under Secretary of Defense for Intel igence
E.O. 12333 §1.3(d)(2) DOD Secretary recommends,
Defense for Intelligence (OUSD(I))
(USD(I)) and the DNI’s Director of Defense
after consulting with the DNI; then pursuant to 10
(Office is not an official element of
Intelligence (DDI) Joseph D. Kernan (sworn in
U.S.C. §137(a), presidential y appointed and Senate
the IC.)
December 1, 2017)
confirmed (SASC).
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
50 U.S.C. §3041(c)(2)(A) DOD Secretary recommends
(D/DIA) LTG Robert P. Ashley, Jr., U.S.
after consulting with DNI; then pursuant to 10 U.S.C.
Army (sworn in October 3, 2017)
§601(a), as an active duty 3-star general, presidential y
appointed, Senate confirmed (SASC).
National Geospatial-Intelligence
Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(C) DOD Secretary needs DNI to
Agency (NGA)
Agency (D/NGA) Vice Adm. Robert D. Sharp
concur; then, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §441(b) and §601(a),
(sworn in February 7, 2019)
if civilian—presidential y appointed, if active duty
military—presidential y appointed, Senate confirmed
(SASC).
National Reconnaissance Office
Director of the National Reconnaissance Office
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(B) DOD Secretary needs DNI to
(NRO)
(D/NRO) Betty J. Sapp (sworn in July 6, 2012)
concur with the recommendation to the President; and
Christopher Scolese, (nominated, February 7,
50 U.S.C. §3602(a)(2), Director is appointment by the
2019)
President, Senate confirmed; then pursuant to S.Res.
470, Senate confirmed (SSCI and SASC).
National Security Agency/Central
Commander, U.S. Cyber Command and Director,
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(A) DOD Secretary needs DNI to
Security Service (NSA/CSS)
NSA/Chief, Central Security Service
concur; then, pursuant to S.Res. 470, presidential y
(DIRNSA/CHCSS) GEN Paul M. Nakasone,
appointed, Senate confirmed (SSCI and SASC).
U.S. Army (sworn in May 4, 2018)
Service-Level
U.S. Air Force Intel igence (AF/A2)
Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveil ance
E.O. 12333 (as amended) §1.3(d)(2)—“relevant
and Reconnaissance, Headquarters USAF (AF/A2)
department head” is to consult with the DNI prior to
Lt Gen VeraLinn Jamieson, USAF (November
these appointments; then pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §601
2016)
“Positions of importance and responsibility,” nominees
are presidential y appointed, Senate confirmed (SASC).
U.S. Army Intel igence (G2)
Deputy Chief of Staff (G-2), LTG Scott D.
10 USC §601(a): “The President may designate positions
Berrier, U.S. Army (confirmed January 30, 2018)
of importance and responsibility to carry the grade of
U.S. Marine Corps Intel igence
Director of Intelligence (DIRINT) BGen Dimitry
general or admiral or lieutenant general or vice
(MCISRE)
Henry, USMC (July 2017)
admiral…. An officer assigned to any such position has
the grade specified … by and with the advice and
U.S. Navy Intelligence (N2/N6)
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information
consent of the Senate.”
Dominance and Director of Naval Intelligence (N-
2/N6) VADM Matthew J. Kohler, USN (June
2018)
Source: CRS, based on provisions in U.S. Code; E.O. 12333; and S.Res. 470, July 7, 2014.
Michael E. DeVine, Analyst in Intelligence and National Security
IF10538
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U.S. Intelligence Community (IC): Appointment Dates and Appointment Legal Provisions for Selected IC Leadership
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