| Director of National Intelligence | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the director of national intelligence | |
 Flag of the director of national intelligence | |
 | |
| Office of the Director of National Intelligence | |
| Style | Madam Director (informal) The Honorable (formal) |
| Member of | Cabinet National Security Council Homeland Security Council |
| Reports to | President of the United States |
| Seat | Washington, D.C. |
| Appointer | Thepresident withSenateadvice and consent |
| Constituting instrument | 50 U.S.C. § 3023 |
| Precursor | Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) |
| Formation | December 17, 2004 |
| First holder | John Negroponte |
| Deputy | Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (P/DDNI) |
| Website | www |
Thedirector of national intelligence (DNI) is acabinet-levelUnited States government intelligence and security official. The position is required by theIntelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to serve as executive head of theUnited States Intelligence Community (IC) and to direct and oversee theNational Intelligence Program (NIP). All 18 IC agencies, including theCentral Intelligence Agency (CIA), theDefense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and theNational Security Agency (NSA), report directly to the DNI. Other federal agencies with intelligence capabilities also report to the DNI, including theFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The DNI also serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States, theNational Security Council, and theHomeland Security Council on all intelligence matters. The DNI, supported by theOffice of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), produces thePresident's Daily Brief, a highlyclassified document including intelligence from all IC agencies, shared each morning with the president of the United States.[1] The DNI, who is appointed by the president of the United States and is subject to confirmation by theUnited States Senate, servesat the pleasure of the president.
PresidentGeorge W. Bush strengthened the role of the DNI on July 30, 2008, withExecutive Order 13470,[2] which, among other things, solidified the DNI's legal authority to direct intelligence gathering and analysis, and to set policy for intelligence sharing with foreign agencies and for the hiring and firing of senior intelligence officials.[3] The DNI was given further responsibility for the entire IC'swhistleblowing and source protection by PresidentBarack Obama viaPresidential Policy Directive 19 on October 10, 2012.
The position was elevated to acabinet-level role during the first presidency ofDonald Trump and retained this status in subsequent administrations. Currently, the DNI attends all cabinet meetings and liaises with the executive office of the president and other Cabinet secretaries in the execution of their duties. President Donald Trump nominatedTulsi Gabbard to the position in 2025, and she was subsequently confirmed by the US Senate on February 12, 2025.[4][5]
Before the DNI was formally established, the head of the United States Intelligence Community was thedirector of central intelligence (DCI), who concurrently served as the director of theCentral Intelligence Agency (CIA).
The9/11 Commission recommended establishing the DNI position in its9/11 Commission Report, not released until July 22, 2004, as it had identified major intelligence failures that called into question how well the intelligence community was able to protect U.S. interests against foreign terrorist attacks.
SenatorsDianne Feinstein,Jay Rockefeller andBob Graham introduced S. 2645 on June 19, 2002, to create the position of Director of National Intelligence. Other similar legislation soon followed. After considerable debate on the scope of the DNI's powers and authorities, theUnited States Congress passed theIntelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 by votes of 336–75 in theHouse of Representatives, and 89–2 in theSenate. President George Bush signed the bill into law on December 17, 2004. Among other things, the law established the DNI position as the designated leader of theUnited States Intelligence Community and prohibited the DNI from serving as the CIA director or the head of any other intelligence community element at the same time. In addition, the law required the CIA Director to report their agency's activities to the DNI.
Critics say compromises during the bill's crafting led to the establishment of a DNI whose powers are too weak to adequately lead, manage and improve the performance of the intelligence community.[6] In particular, the law left theUnited States Department of Defense in charge of theNational Security Agency (NSA), theNational Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and theNational Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).
Under50 U.S.C. § 3026, "under ordinary circumstances, it is desirable" that either the director or the principal deputy director of national intelligence be an active-duty commissioned officer in thearmed forces or have training or experience in military intelligence activities and requirements. Only one of the two positions can be held by a military officer at any given time. The statute does not specify what rank the commissioned officer will hold during their tenure in either position.
The first director of national intelligence was formerU.S. ambassador to IraqJohn Negroponte who was appointed on February 17, 2005, by President George W. Bush, subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate. It was reported that President Bush's first choice for DNI was formerdirector of central intelligenceRobert M. Gates, who was serving as president ofTexas A&M University, but who declined the offer.[7] Negroponte was confirmed by a Senate vote of 98–2 on April 21, 2005, and he was sworn in by President Bush the same day.
On February 13, 2007,Mike McConnell became the second director of national intelligence, after Negroponte was appointedDeputy Secretary of State.Donald M. Kerr was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence on October 4, 2007, and sworn in on October 9, 2007. Kerr, from Virginia, was previously the director of theNational Reconnaissance Office and the deputy director for science and technology at theCIA before that. Earlier in his career, he was an assistant director at theFBI, in charge of their Laboratory Division from 1997 to 2001.
On January 29, 2009, retiredNavy admiralDennis C. Blair became the third DNI on after being nominated by newly inaugurated PresidentBarack Obama.[8] President Obama dismissed Blair whose resignation became effective May 28, 2010.[9]
On July 20, 2010, PresidentBarack Obama nominated retiredAir Force lieutenant generalJames Clapper as the fourth DNI. Clapper was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 5, and replaced acting directorDavid C. Gompert.
The fifth DNI,Dan Coats, the sixth DNI,John Ratcliffe, and acting DNIsJoseph Maguire,Richard Grenell andLora Shiao, all served between March 16, 2017, and January 21, 2021, during the first administration of PresidentDonald Trump.
The seventh DNI isAvril Haines, who took office on January 21, 2021. The first woman to hold the office, she was nominated by President-electJoe Biden on November 23, 2020[10] and confirmed by the Senate on January 20, 2021.[11] She resigned January 20, 2025 at the conclusion of Joe Biden's term in office.
On November 13, 2024, President-electDonald Trump announced his intention to nominateArmy Reserve lieutenant colonelTulsi Gabbard as the director of national intelligence upon returning to the presidency in January 2025. Gabbard was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 12, 2025, replacing acting directorLora Shiao. With this appointment, she became the first female military combat veteran to serve as DNI and firstPacific Islander American and firstHindu American in this position as well as to hold aCabinet-level position.[12][13]
Declan McCullagh at News.com wrote on August 24, 2007, that the DNI site was configured to repel all search engines to index any page at DNI.gov. This effectively made the DNI website invisible to all search engines and in turn, any search queries.[14] Ross Feinstein, Spokesman for the DNI, said that the cloaking was removed as of September 3, 2007. "We're not even sure how (therobots.txt file) got there" – but it was again somehow hidden the next day. On September 7, McCullagh reported that the DNI appeared to be open to web searches again.[15]
In September 2007, the Office of the DNI released "Intelligence Community 100 Day & 500 Day Plans for Integration & Collaboration". These plans include a series of initiatives designed to build the foundation for increased cooperation and reform of the U.S. Intelligence Community.[16]
TheIntelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 established the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) as anindependent agency to assist the DNI. The ODNI's goal is to effectively integrate foreign, military and domestic intelligence in defense of the homeland and of United States interests abroad.[17] The ODNI has about 1,750 employees.[18] Its headquarters are inMcLean, Virginia.
On March 23, 2007, DNI Mike McConnell announced organizational changes, which included:
The ODNI continued to evolve under succeeding directors, culminating in an organization focused on intelligence integration across the community.[citation needed]
The ODNI leadership includes the director, principal deputy director and chief operating officer.[19] In addition, the Director of Defense Intelligence reports to the DNI.
There are two directorates, each led by a deputy director of National Intelligence:[19][20]
There are five mission centers, each led by a director of that center:[19][20]
There are also four oversight offices:[19][20]
The line of succession for the director of national intelligence is as follows:[22]
Position succeeded thedirector of central intelligence.
Denotes acting capacity. |
| No. | Image | Name | Start | End | Duration | President(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | John Negroponte | April 21, 2005 | February 13, 2007 | 1 year, 298 days | George W. Bush (2001–2009) | |
| 2 | .jpg) | Mike McConnell | February 13, 2007 | January 27, 2009 | 1 year, 349 days | ||
| – |  | Ronald Burgess Acting | January 27, 2009 | January 29, 2009 | 2 days | Barack Obama (2009–2017) | |
| 3 | .jpg) | Dennis Blair | January 29, 2009 | May 28, 2010 | 1 year, 119 days | ||
| – | .jpg) | David Gompert Acting | May 28, 2010 | August 5, 2010 | 69 days | ||
| 4 | .jpg) | James Clapper | August 5, 2010 | January 20, 2017 | 6 years, 168 days | ||
| – | .jpg) | Mike Dempsey Acting | January 20, 2017 | March 16, 2017 | 55 days | Donald Trump (2017–2021) | |
| 5 | .jpg) | Dan Coats | March 16, 2017 | August 15, 2019 | 2 years, 152 days | ||
| – | .jpg) | Joseph Maguire Acting | August 15, 2019 | February 20, 2020 | 189 days | ||
| – | .jpg) | Richard Grenell Acting | February 20, 2020 | May 26, 2020 | 96 days | ||
| 6 | .jpg) | John Ratcliffe | May 26, 2020 | January 20, 2021 | 239 days | ||
| – |  | Lora Shiao Acting | January 20, 2021 | January 21, 2021 | 1 day | Joe Biden (2021–2025) | |
| 7 | .jpg) | Avril Haines | January 21, 2021 | January 20, 2025 | 3 years, 365 days | ||
| – |  | Stacey Dixon Acting | January 20, 2025 | January 25, 2025 | 5 days | Donald Trump (2025–present) | |
| – | | Lora Shiao Acting | January 25, 2025 | February 12, 2025 | 18 days | ||
| 8 | .jpg) | Tulsi Gabbard | February 12, 2025 | Incumbent | 282 days | ||
| Name | Term of office | President(s) served under |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Hayden | April 21, 2005 – May 26, 2006 | George W. Bush |
| Ronald L. Burgess Jr. Acting | June 2006 – October 5, 2007 | |
| Donald Kerr | October 5, 2007 – January 20, 2009 | |
| Ronald L. Burgess Jr. Acting | January 20, 2009 – February 2009 | Barack Obama |
| David C. Gompert | November 10, 2009 – February 11, 2011 | |
| Stephanie O'Sullivan | February 18, 2011 – January 20, 2017 | |
| Susan M. Gordon | August 7, 2017 – August 15, 2019 | Donald Trump |
| Andrew P. Hallmana Acting | October 30, 2019 – February 21, 2020 | |
| Kash Patel | February 21, 2020 – May 13, 2020 | |
| Neil Wileya | May 13, 2020 – February 2021 | Donald Trump,Joe Biden |
| Stacey Dixon | August 4, 2021 – January 25, 2025[23] | Joe Biden,Donald Trump |
| Aaron Lukas | July 24, 2025 -Incumbent[24] | Donald Trump |
| Name | Term of office | President(s) served under |
|---|---|---|
| Deirdre Walsh | February 2018 – May 2020 | Donald Trump |
| Lora Shiao | October 2020 – present | Donald Trump,Joe Biden |
| Name | Term of office | President(s) served under |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald L. Burgess Jr. | May 2007 – February 2009 | George W. Bush,Barack Obama |
| John Kimmons | February 2009 – October 2010 | Barack Obama |
| Mark Ewing[citation needed] | November 2010 –n/a | Barack Obama,Donald Trump |
| Name | Term of office | President(s) served under |
|---|---|---|
| Charles McCullough | October 7, 2010 – March 2017[26] | Barack Obama,Donald Trump |
| Michael Atkinson | May 17, 2018 – May 3, 2020[27][28][29] | Donald Trump |
| Thomas Monheim | April 3, 2020[30][31]a – January 3, 2025 | Donald Trump,Joe Biden |
| Name | Office | Term of office | President(s) served under |
|---|---|---|---|
| William P. Ruger | Mission Integration | April 2025[32] – present | Donald Trump |
| Beth Sanner | Mission Integration | May 2019[33] – March 2021 | Donald Trump,Joe Biden |
| Kevin Meiners[34] | Enterprise Capacity | n/a – present | Donald Trump |
| Karen Gibson | National Security Partnerships | April 2019[35] – 2020 | Donald Trump |
| Corin Stone[36] | Strategy & Engagement | n/a – present | Donald Trump |
| Name | Office | Term of Office | President(s) served under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Ronald Sanders | ADNI for Human Capital | June 2005 - March 2010 | George W. Bush,Barack Obama |
| Deborah Kircher | ADNI for Human Capital | October 2011[37] – present | Barack Obama,Donald Trump |
| John Sherman | Intelligence Community Chief Information Officer | September 2017[38] – June 2020[39] | Donald Trump |
| Trey Treadwell[40] | Chief Financial Officer | n/a – present | Donald Trump |
| Catherine Johnston | ADNI for Systems and Resource Analyses | May 2018[41] – present | Donald Trump |
| Roy Pettis[42] | ADNI for Acquisition, Procurement and Facilities | n/a – present | Donald Trump |
| James Smith[43] | ADNI for Policy and Strategy (Acting) | n/a – present | Donald Trump |
acts as the president's top intelligence adviser
John Sherman, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Intelligence Community (IC), today announced that he will depart the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in June to serve as the Principal Deputy CIO for the U.S. Department of Defense.
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