William J. Burns (diplomat) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Burns
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Official portrait, 2021
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| 8th Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | |
| In office March 19, 2021 – January 20, 2025 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Deputy | David S. Cohen |
| Preceded by | Gina Haspel |
| Succeeded by | John Ratcliffe |
| 17th United States Deputy Secretary of State | |
| In office July 28, 2011 – November 3, 2014 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | James Steinberg |
| Succeeded by | Antony Blinken |
| Acting United States Secretary of State | |
| In office January 20, 2009 – January 21, 2009 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Condoleezza Rice |
| Succeeded by | Hillary Clinton |
| 20th Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs | |
| In office May 13, 2008 – July 28, 2011 |
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| President | George W. Bush Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | R. Nicholas Burns |
| Succeeded by | Wendy Sherman |
| United States Ambassador to Russia | |
| In office November 8, 2005 – May 13, 2008 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Alexander Vershbow |
| Succeeded by | John Beyrle |
| Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs | |
| In office June 4, 2001 – March 2, 2005 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Edward S. Walker Jr. |
| Succeeded by | David Welch |
| United States Ambassador to Jordan | |
| In office August 9, 1998 – June 4, 2001 |
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| President | Bill Clinton George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Wesley Egan |
| Succeeded by | Edward Gnehm |
| 17th Executive Secretary of the United States Department of State | |
| In office January 16, 1996 – February 27, 1998 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Kenneth C. Brill |
| Succeeded by | Kristie Kenney |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Joseph Burns
April 11, 1956 Fort Bragg, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | Lisa Carty |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | La Salle University (BA) St John's College, Oxford (MPhil, DPhil) |
| Diplomatic service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | U.S. Department of State |
| Years of service | 1982–2014 |
| Rank | Career Ambassador |
William Joseph Burns (born April 11, 1956) is an American diplomat. He served as the 8th director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from March 2021 to January 2025. The CIA is a government agency that collects information about other countries to protect the United States.
Before leading the CIA, Burns had a long career as a diplomat. He worked for the U.S. government for 32 years, helping to manage relationships with other countries. He was the United States Deputy Secretary of State from 2011 to 2014. He also served as an ambassador to Jordan and Russia. After retiring from the Foreign Service in 2014, he became the president of a group called the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
In 2021, President Joe Biden chose Burns to be the new CIA Director. The Senate, which is part of the U.S. government, approved his nomination.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Joseph Burns was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in 1956. His father, William F. Burns, was a major general in the United States Army. His father also worked for the government on arms control.
Burns went to Trinity High School in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. He was the top student when he graduated in 1973. He then studied history at La Salle University and finished with high honors in 1978.
After college, he received a special scholarship called the Marshall Scholarship. This allowed him to study at the University of Oxford in England. There, he earned two advanced degrees in international relations. His final paper was about economic aid and American policy toward Egypt. While at Oxford, he also played on the men's basketball team.
A Career in Diplomacy
What is the U.S. Foreign Service?
Burns started his career in the United States Foreign Service in 1982. The Foreign Service is a group of people who work for the U.S. government overseas. They represent the United States in other countries. Their job is to promote peace, support American citizens abroad, and help with international relations.
Important Diplomatic Roles
Burns held many important positions during his career. He was the U.S. ambassador to Jordan from 1998 to 2001. Later, he became the ambassador to Russia from 2005 to 2008. He also served as the United States Deputy Secretary of State, which is a very high-ranking diplomatic job.
In 2008, he was given the title of "Career Ambassador." This is the highest rank a diplomat can achieve in the U.S. Foreign Service. It is a rare honor.
Working on Key Global Issues
As a diplomat, Burns often gave advice on important world events. For example, he shared his thoughts on how Russia might react if Ukraine joined a group called NATO. He explained that Russia would see this as a big challenge.
He was also involved in secret talks with Iran in 2013. These talks helped lead to an agreement about Iran's nuclear program. Burns was a key person in these important discussions.
In 2014, Burns retired from the Foreign Service. He then became the president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. This is a group that works on international issues and tries to find peaceful solutions to global problems.
Leading the Central Intelligence Agency
Becoming CIA Director
On January 11, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his plan to nominate William Burns as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). President Biden said he believed that intelligence work should be fair and not influenced by politics.
The Senate, which must approve such appointments, held a hearing for Burns. They approved his nomination unanimously on March 18, 2021. He officially became the Director of the CIA on March 19. Vice President Kamala Harris held a special ceremony for him a few days later.
Focus on Global Challenges
During his confirmation hearing, Burns spoke about the challenges facing the United States. He said that China's leadership was the biggest global test. He explained that China was trying to steal ideas, control its own people, and expand its influence around the world.
In 2021, Burns was involved in discussions about the U.S. military leaving Afghanistan. He met with the Taliban leader to talk about the deadline for troops to leave. In 2023, he also made a secret trip to China to help reduce tensions between the two countries.
More recently, after a conflict began between Israel and Hamas, Burns worked to help secure the release of hostages.
Publications
Books
Burns wrote a book about his experiences as a diplomat. It is called The Back Channel: A Memoir of American Diplomacy and the Case for Its Renewal. It was published in 2019. The book shares stories from his long career in diplomacy.
Articles
- Spycraft and Statecraft, Foreign Affairs, January 30, 2024
Awards and Honors
William Burns has received many awards for his long and important service to the United States. These include:
- Three Presidential Distinguished Service Awards.
- Several awards from the Department of State, including the Secretary's Distinguished Service Award.
- The Department of Defense Award for Distinguished Public Service.
- The CIA's Agency Seal Medal.
He was also named one of Time magazine's "50 Most Promising American Leaders Under Age 40" in 1994. In 2013, Foreign Policy magazine named him "Diplomat of the Year." He has also received honorary degrees from several universities.
Awards from Other Countries
Burns has also been honored by other countries for his diplomatic work. Some of these awards include:
- The Legion of Honour from France.
- The Order of Merit from Germany.
- The Order of the Rising Sun from Japan.
- The Marshall Medal from the United Kingdom.
- The Order of Merit from Italy.
- The Al Kawkab Medal from Jordan.
- The Royal Order of St Olav from Norway.
Personal Life
William Burns is married to Lisa Carty. She is also a former diplomat and now works for the United Nations. They have two daughters. Burns can speak English, French, Russian, and Arabic.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2021
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William Joseph Burns sworn in as CIA Director by Kamala Harris in 2021
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Burns sitting with President Joe Biden, Harris, and the U.S. national security team, August 18, 2021
See also
In Spanish: William Joseph Burns para niños
