Director of National Intelligence

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	To oppose or discuss a nomination, please go to CZ:Proposed for deletion and follow the instructions. For the monthly nomination lists, see Category:Articles for deletion. The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) is the United States government official subject to the authority, direction and control of the President of the United States of America|President who is responsible under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 for: Serving as the principal adviser to the President of the United States of America|President, the National Security Council|National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council for intelligence matters related to the national security; Serving as the head of the sixteen-member United States Intelligence Community (IC); and Overseeing and directing the National Intelligence Program. Admiral Dennis Blair was confirmed on January 28, 2009, but James Clapper was confirmed as his replacement in August 2010. As was the case when the CIA headed the IC, the Director and Principal Deputy Director cannot both be active-duty military officers. A difference is that the Congress expressed a desire that one either be a military intelligence officer, usually of four-star rank, or have extensive experience in military intelligence. 50 U.S.C. § 403-3a Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 established the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) as an independent agency to assist the DNI. The ODNI has about 1,500 employees. The National Counterterrorism Center is a major organization within the ODNI. On March 23, 2007, DNI Mike McConnell announced organizational changes, which include: elevating acquisition to a new Deputy DNI position creating a new Deputy DNI for Policy, Plans, and Requirements (replacing the Deputy DNI for Requirements position) establishing an Executive Committee designating the Chief of Staff position as the new Director of the Intelligence Staff. 100 Day/500 Day Plans The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has 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. History Prior to establishment of the DNI, the head of the United States Intelligence Community was the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI). The DCI concurrently served as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Establishment of the DNI position was one of the recommendations in the 9/11 Commission Report|report by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States|9/11 Commission investigating the 9/11|September 11 attacks. The report, which was released on July 22, 2004, identified major intelligence failures that called into question how well the Intelligence Community protected US national and homeland security interests against attacks by foreign terrorists. Soon thereafter Senators Dianne Feinstein, John D. Rockefeller IV and Bob Graham introduced legislation to create a Director of National Intelligence, S. 2645, introduced on June 19, 2002. Other, similar, legislation soon followed. After considerable debate on the scope of the DNI's powers and authorities, the United States Congress passed the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 by votes of 336-75 in the U.S. House of Representatives|House of Representatives, and 89-2 in the United States Senate|Senate. President George W. Bush signed the bill into law on December 17, 2004. Among other things, the law established the DNI position as the designated leader of the United 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" his 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 US Intelligence Community. In particular, the law left the United States Department of Defense in charge of the National Security Agency (NSA), the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. (The limited DNI role in leading the US Intelligence Community is discussed in the United States Intelligence Community|Intelligence Community article.) On February 17, 2005, President George W. Bush named U.S. Ambassador to Iraq John Negroponte to the post, pending United States Senate#Appointments|confirmation by the Senate. It was reported that President Bush's first choice for Director of National Intelligence was former Director of Central Intelligence Robert M. Gates, who was serving as president of Texas A&M University; however, Gates declined the offer. Negroponte was confirmed by a Senate vote of 98 to 2 in favor of his appointment on April 21, 2005, and was sworn in by President Bush on that day. On February 13, 2007, Negroponte was sworn in as Deputy Secretary of State, and John Michael McConnell became the 2nd Director of National Intelligence. Directors of National Intelligence Name image start end President(s) served under notes John Negroponte 2005-04-21 2007-02-13 George W. Bush John McConnell 2007-02-13 2009-01-28 George W. Bush Dennis Blair 2009-01-27 2010-08-05 Barack Obama David Gompert 2010-05-28 2010-08-05 Barack Obama Acting James Clapper 2010-08-05 2017-01-20 Barack Obama Michael Dempsey 2017-01-20 2017-03-16 Donald Trump Dan Coats 2017-03-16 2019-08-15 Donald Trump Joseph Maguire 2019-08-15 2020-02-20 Donald Trump Acting Richard Grenell 2020-02-20 2020-05-26 Donald Trump Acting John Ratcliffe 2020-05-26 2021-01-20 Donald Trump Lora Shiao 2021-01-20 2021-01-21 Joe Biden Acting Avril Haines 2021-01-21 present Joe Biden References