William J. Burns | |
|---|---|
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:CIA_Director_Burns.jpg) Official portrait, 2021 | |
| 8th Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | |
| Assumed office March 19, 2021 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Deputy | David S. Cohen |
| Preceded by | Gina Haspel |
| 17th United States Deputy Secretary of State | |
| In office July 28, 2011 – November 3, 2014 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | James Steinberg |
| Succeeded by | Antony Blinken |
| United States Secretary of State | |
| Acting January 20, 2009 – January 21, 2009[1] | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Alexander Vershbow |
| Succeeded by | John Beyrle |
| 20th Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs | |
| In office June 4, 2001 – March 2, 2005 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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)[2] is an American diplomat and the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) during the Biden administration since March 19, 2021.[3] He previously served as U.S. deputy secretary of state from 2011 to 2014; in 2009 he served as acting secretary of state for a day, prior to the confirmation of Hillary Clinton. Burns retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2014 after a 32-year career. From 2014 to 2021, he served as president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.[4][5]
Burns served as ambassador to Jordan from 1998 to 2001, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs from 2001 to 2005, ambassador to Russia from 2005 to 2008 and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 2008 to 2011.[6]
In January 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Burns to become CIA director.[7] He was unanimously confirmed by voice vote in the Senate on March 18, 2021, sworn in officially as director on March 19,[3] as well as ceremonially sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on March 23.[8][9] In July 2023, Biden elevated Burns to a position in his cabinet, a largely symbolic action.[10]
- ^ "Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Condoleezza Rice (1954–)". U.S. Department of State – Office of the Historian. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
Under Secretary for Political Affairs William J. Burns served as Acting Secretary of State, January 20–21, 2009.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "About CIA - Director of the CIA". www.cia.gov. Archived from the original on April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ "Ambassador William J. Burns Named Next Carnegie President". National Endowment for Democracy (NEFD). October 28, 2014. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
- ^ "US Senate confirms Biden's health and CIA chiefs". www.aljazeera.com. March 18, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ "William Burns to retire". POLITICO. Associated Press. April 11, 2014. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ "Durbin Meets With William Burns, Biden Nominee For CIA Director". Retrieved January 21, 2021.
- ^ "Harris calls Boulder shooting 'absolutely tragic'". The Hill. March 23, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ "Bill Burns Sworn in as CIA Director - CIA". www.cia.gov. Archived from the original on April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ Shear, Michael D. (July 21, 2023). "Biden Elevates C.I.A. Director to Become a Member of the Cabinet". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 21, 2023.