U.S. Intelligence Community (IC): Appointment Dates and Appointment Legal Provisions for Selected IC Leadership

U.S. Intelligence Community (IC): Appointment Dates and Appointment Legal Provisions for Selected IC Leadership

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Updated July 24, 2024
U.S. Intelligence Community (IC): Appointment Dates and
Appointment Legal Provisions for Selected IC Leadership
This report provides the names and appointment provisions for
(SASC) has jurisdiction over the confirmation of IC leadership
selected Intelligence Community (IC) senior officials, as reflected
positions inside the DOD. In some cases (e.g., the Directors of the
in U.S. Code, public laws, executive orders, and custom. Table 1
National Security Agency and National Reconnaissance Office),
also includes the committees involved when Senate confirmation
nominations may be referred sequentially to the SSCI and the
is required. As a general rule, the Senate Select Committee on
SASC, with the order of referral depending on the nominee’s
Intelligence (SSCI) has jurisdiction over the confirmation of those
status as a member of the armed forces on active duty. If the
nominated to IC leadership positions outside the Department of
nominee is a servicemember on active duty, the nomination begins
Defense (DOD) while the Senate Armed Services Committee
with the SASC, if not, it begins 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 Intel igence (DNI) Avril Haines
50 U.S.C. §3026(c) “Not more than one of [the DNI and the
Intel igence (ODNI)
(sworn in January 21, 2021)
Principal Deputy DNI] may be a commissioned officer of the
Principal Deputy Director of National Intel igence
Armed Forces in active status”; DNI: §3023(a), PDDNI
(PDDNI) Stacey A. Dixon (sworn in August 4, 2021)
§3026(a)(1): presidential y appointed and Senate confirmed
(SSCI).
Central Intel igence Agency (CIA)
Director of the CIA (DCIA) William J. Burns (sworn
50 U.S.C. §3041(a)(2)(B) DNI recommends; then, pursuant to
in March 19, 2021)
50 U.S.C. §3036(a), presidential y appointed and Senate
confirmed (SSCI).
Department of Energy, Office of
Director, Office of Intel igence and Counterintel igence
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(E&F) DOE Secretary needs DNI to
Intel igence and Counterintel igence
Jay A. Tilden (October, 2023)
concur with recommendation; then pursuant to 50 U.S.C.
(DOE/OICI)
§3041(b)(1), DOE Secretary appoints.
Department of Homeland Security,
Under Secretary for Intel igence and Analysis (U/S IA)
For the position of Under Secretary for Intel igence and
Office of Intel igence and Analysis
Kenneth L. Wainstein (confirmed June 7, 2022).
Analysis: 50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(I) DHS Secretary needs DNI
(DHS/I&A)
to concur with recommendation; then pursuant to 6 U.S.C.
§121(b)(1), presidential y appointed, Senate confirmed (SSCI).
Department of Homeland Security, U.S.
Assistant Commandant for Intel igence (CG-2) RDML
50 U.S.C. §3041(c)(2)(B) USCG Commandant appoints, after
Coast Guard, Intel igence Division
Rebecca Ore, USCG (August 2022)
consulting with the DNI.
(USCG/CG-2)
Department of Justice, Drug
Assistant Administrator and Chief of Intel igence Carrie
Senior Executive Appointments—5 U.S.C. §3151 establishes
Enforcement Administration, Office of
Thompson (October 2022)
the FBI-DEA Senior Executive Service.
National Security Intel igence
Deputy Assistant Administrator and Chief of ONSI
(DEA/ONSI)
Tamara Weismann (December, 2019)
Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of
Executive Assistant Director for Intel igence Ryan T.
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(H) Attorney General needs DNI to
Investigation, Intel igence Branch (FBI/IB)
Young (December 2021)
concur with recommendation; then pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§532 note and §2002 of P.L. 108-458, Attorney General
appoints.
Department of Justice, National Security
Assistant Attorney General for National Security
50 U.S.C. §3041(c)(2)(C) Attorney General recommends,
Division (DOJ/NSD) (NSD is not a
Matthew G. Olsen (sworn in November 1, 2021)
after consulting with the DNI; then pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
statutory element of the IC.)
§506 and S.Res. 470, 113th Congress, presidential y appointed
and Senate confirmed (Senate Judiciary Committee and SSCI).
Department of State, Bureau of
Assistant Secretary of State for Intel igence and
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(D) DOS Secretary needs DNI to
Intel igence and Research (DOS/INR)
Research Brett M. Holmgren (sworn in September
concur with recommendation; then pursuant to 22 U.S.C.
15, 2021)
§2651a (c)(1), presidential y appointed and Senate confirmed
(SSCI).
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U.S. Intelligence Community (IC): Appointment Dates and Appointment Legal Provisions for Selected IC Leadership
Department of the Treasury, Office of
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial
Terrorism and Financial Intel igence
Financial Intel igence Brian E. Nelson (confirmed
Intel igence: 31 U.S.C. §312(a)(2)(A)-(B), presidentially
(Treasury/OTFI)
December 2, 2021).
appointed, Senate confirmed.
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Intel igence and
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Intel igence and
Analysis Shannon Corless (confirmed December 16,
Analysis: 50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(G) Treasury Secretary needs
2021).
DNI to concur with recommendation; then pursuant to 31
U.S.C. §311(b) presidential y appointed and Senate confirmed
(SSCI).
Department of Defense

DOD-Wide

Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
Under Secretary of Defense for Intel igence and Security
E.O. 12333 §1.3(d)(2) DOD Secretary recommends, after
for Intel igence and Security (OUSD(I&S))
(USD(I&S)) and the DNI’s Director of Defense
consulting with the DNI; then pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §137(a),
(Office is not an official element of the
Intel igence (DDI) Milancy D. Harris (acting March 1,
presidential y appointed and Senate confirmed (SASC).
IC.)
2024)
Defense Intel igence Agency (DIA)
Director of the Defense Intel igence Agency (D/DIA)
50 U.S.C. §3041(c)(2)(A) DOD Secretary recommends after
Lt. Gen. Jeffrey A. Kruse, USAF (sworn in February
consulting with DNI; then pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §601(a), as
2, 2024)
an active duty 3-star general, presidential y appointed, Senate
confirmed (SASC).
National Geospatial-Intel igence Agency
Director of the National Geospatial-Intel igence Agency
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(C) DOD Secretary needs DNI to
(NGA)
(D/NGA) VADM Frank Whitworth, USN (sworn in
concur; then, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §441(b) and §601(a), if
June 3, 2022)
civilian—presidential y appointed, if active duty military—
presidential y appointed, Senate confirmed (SASC).
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)
Director of the National Reconnaissance Office
50 U.S.C. §3041(b)(2)(B) DOD Secretary needs DNI to
(D/NRO) Christopher J. Scolese (sworn in August 5,
concur with the recommendation to the President; and 50
2019)
U.S.C. §3602(a)(2), Director is appointment by the President,
Senate confirmed; then pursuant to S.Res. 470, 113th Cong.,
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 (DIRNSA/CHCSS)
concur; then, pursuant to S.Res. 470, 113th Cong.,
Gen. Timothy D. Haugh, USAF (sworn in February
presidential y appointed, Senate confirmed (SSCI and SASC).
2, 2024)
Service-Level

U.S. Air Force Intel igence (AF/A2)
Deputy Chief of Staff for Intel igence, Surveil ance and
E.O. 12333 (as amended) §1.3(d)(2)—“relevant department
Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations,
head” is to consult with the DNI prior to these appointments;
Headquarters USAF (AF/A2) Lt. Gen. Leah G.
then pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §601 “Positions of importance and
Lauderback, USAF (August 2022)
responsibility,” nominees are presidential y appointed, Senate
confirmed (SASC).
U.S. Army Intel igence (G2)
Deputy Chief of Staff (G-2), LTG Anthony R. Hale,
10 U.S.C. §601(a): “The President may designate positions of
USA (January 2024)
importance and responsibility to carry the grade of general or
admiral or lieutenant general or vice admiral…. An officer
U.S. Marine Corps Intel igence (MCISRE)
Director of Intel igence, Lt. Gen. Matthew G. Glavy,
assigned to any such position has the grade specified … by
USMC (June 2023); Assistant Director of Intel igence,
and with the advice and consent of the Senate.”
Leila Gardner (November 2023).
U.S. Navy Intel igence (N2/N6)
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information
Dominance and Director of Naval Intel igence (N-2/N6)
VADM Karl O. Thomas, USN (February 2024)
U.S. Space Force Intel igence (S-2)
Director, Intel igence, Surveil ance, Reconnaissance, U.S.

Space Force (S-2) Maj. Gen. Gregory J. Gagnon,
USSF (July 2022)
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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