Director of the Central Intelligence Agency facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Flag of the Central Intelligence Agency
Seal of the Central Intelligence Agency
Incumbent John Ratcliffe since January 23, 2025
Central Intelligence Agency
Abbreviation	D/CIA
Reports to	Director of National Intelligence (DNI)
Seat	George Bush Center for Intelligence, Langley, Fairfax County, Virginia
Appointer	President with Senate advice and consent
Term length	No fixed term
Constituting instrument	50 U.S.C. § 3036
Precursor	Director of Central Intelligence
Formation	December 17, 2004
First holder	Porter J. Goss
Deputy	Deputy director
Salary	$225,700 Executive Schedule, Level II

The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (often called the D/CIA) is the leader of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The CIA is a very important part of the United States Intelligence Community. This community gathers and uses information to protect the country.

The D/CIA reports to the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). The DNI is the main boss for all US intelligence groups. The D/CIA also gets help from the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The person in this job can be a civilian (someone not in the military) or a high-ranking military officer. The President of the United States chooses the D/CIA. This choice must then be approved by the United States Senate.

History of the D/CIA Role

Before December 17, 2004, the person in charge was called the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI). This DCI led both the entire United States Intelligence Community and the Central Intelligence Agency. The DCI also gave advice to the President on important intelligence matters. They were also the official intelligence advisor to the United States National Security Council.

The job of DCI was created in 1946 by President Harry S. Truman. This was even before the Central Intelligence Agency itself was officially formed in 1947. After World War II ended, an older intelligence group was closed down. Its tasks were split between different government departments. President Truman soon saw that this was not working well. So, he created a new group to help coordinate intelligence. The next year, the National Security Act of 1947 officially created the CIA. This law also clearly defined the duties of the Director of Central Intelligence. Over the years, these duties were further shaped by traditions and new laws.

In February 2017, the D/CIA became part of the Cabinet of the United States. This meant the Director attended important meetings with the President and other top leaders. This change happened during the Trump administration. It ended when the Biden administration began. However, in July 2023, the D/CIA was again made a Cabinet-level position by the Biden administration.

Who Takes Over: Order of Succession

The order of succession explains who will take over the D/CIA's duties if the Director cannot do their job. This could happen if the Director resigns, passes away, or becomes unable to work. The person next in line will then serve as the acting Director.

If someone is already serving in an acting role, or cannot take the job for other reasons, the list skips to the next person. However, the President can still choose someone else from the list to be the acting Director if they wish.

List of Directors

This position took over from the Director of Central Intelligence.

No.	Image	Name	Start	End	Duration	President
1		Goss, PorterPorter Goss	December 17, 2004	May 5, 2006	1 year, 24 days		Bush, George W.George W. Bush (2001–2009)
2		Hayden, MichaelMichael Hayden	May 30, 2006	February 12, 2009	2 years, 260 days
3		Panetta, LeonLeon Panetta	February 13, 2009	June 30, 2011	2 years, 138 days		Obama, BarackBarack Obama (2009–2017)
–		Morell, MichaelMichael Morell Acting	July 1, 2011	September 6, 2011	68 days
4		Petraeus, DavidDavid Petraeus	September 6, 2011	November 9, 2012	1 year, 66 days
–		Morell, MichaelMichael Morell Acting	November 9, 2012	March 8, 2013	130 days
5		Brennan, JohnJohn Brennan	March 8, 2013	January 20, 2017	3 years, 320 days
–		Park, MeroeMeroe Park Acting	January 20, 2017	January 23, 2017	4 days		Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (2017–2021)
6		Pompeo, MikeMike Pompeo	January 23, 2017	April 26, 2018	1 year, 94 days
7		Haspel, GinaGina Haspel	April 26, 2018	May 21, 2018	26 days
			May 21, 2018	January 20, 2021	2 years, 245 days
–		Cohen, DavidDavid Cohen Acting	January 20, 2021	March 19, 2021	59 days		Biden, JoeJoe Biden (2021–2025)
8		Burns, BillBill Burns	March 19, 2021	January 20, 2025	3 years, 308 days
–		Sylvester, TomTom Sylvester Acting	January 20, 2025	January 23, 2025	3 days		Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (2025–present)
9		Ratcliffe, JohnJohn Ratcliffe	January 23, 2025	Incumbent	161 days

See also

In Spanish: Director de la Agencia Central de Inteligencia para niños

• Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Director of the United States Marshals Service
• Director of the United States Secret Service