Burns, who is known as Bill, is president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a respected international affairs think tank in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) (CN) — President-elect Joe Biden tapped William Burns to head the Central Intelligence Agency, filling another important position as Biden’s assumption of the White House is days away. During his first stint as deputy CIA director, Cohen helped oversee the intelligence agency's strategic modernization and led foreign intelligence collection. President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate veteran diplomat William Burns to be the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Biden Taps Career Diplomat William Burns as CIA Director The final big name for Biden’s national security team signals a break with the CIA’s dark … William Burns, a well-known figure in diplomatic circles around the world, is President-elect Joe Biden’s choice to lead the CIA, a selection likely to be embraced by the rank and file at the nation’s premier spy agency. Before that he served as ambassador to Russia. But the CIA director won’t be the most important intelligence official in the Biden administration. "We learned some very hard and painful lessons in Benghazi," Burns said. See historic moment House reaches enough votes to impeach Trump, Rep. Hoyer: Republicans I've talked to say this action is required, AOC on Capitol riots: Members were 'nearly assassinated', Sibling of GOP congressman says brother 'peddles in propaganda', What the Capitol looks like ahead of impeachment vote, 'Lapdog Lindsey': Lemon speaks on the evolution of Lindsey Graham, What you need to know about Biden's nominees, Biden says Trump skipping inauguration is 'a good thing', As Biden raises money for his virtual inauguration, lobbyists prepare for a scaled-down schmooze-fest. His selection would bypass other contenders with more formal experience in the intelligence field. Burns also has a long history at the center of Middle East peace negotiations and worked closely in the Obama administration on the Iran nuclear deal. “The … President-elect Joe Biden has chosen veteran diplomat William Burns to be his CIA director. The New York Times reported no final decision has been made and one is not expected to be announced until at least next week. Burns has talked extensively about the damage he believes the Trump administration has inflicted on the United States' foreign policy. He would be the first career diplomat to serve as CIA Director. William J. Burns, President-elect Joe Biden’s choice to be CIA director, is pictured at a news conference on July 11, 2013, in Washington, D.C. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images) By Alex Marquardt and Veronica Stracqualursi, CNN. He also served under five American presidents, both Democrats and Republicans, and 10 secretaries of state in a variety of posts, including as ambassador to Jordan in the Clinton administration and to Russia under George W. Bush. WASHINGTON – Today, President-elect Joe Biden announced Ambassador William J. Burns as his nominee for Director of the CIA. Ambassador Burns is a career diplomat who served in the U.S. Foreign Service for 33 years and holds the highest rank in the service. He served as deputy secretary of State in the Obama administration after working for more than three decades in positions across the foreign service, which he joined in 1982. If confirmed, Burns would be the first leader of the CIA who had a lifelong career at the State Department. President-elect Joe Biden early Monday announced former Deputy Secretary of State William Burns as his nominee for director of the Central Intelligence Agency. President-elect Joe Biden announced Monday he has chosen veteran diplomat William Burns to be his CIA director. "Everyone always wanted to send their memos to Bill," Haines told the audience. President-elect Joe Biden announced Monday that he has nominated former career diplomat William Burns to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. "He shares my profound belief that intelligence must be apolitical and that the dedicated intelligence professionals serving our nation deserve our gratitude and respect.". By Jeff Zeleny, Senior Washington Correspondent, Updated 1203 GMT (2003 HKT) January 11, 2021. Mr Burns led the Obama administration's negotiations with Iran to reach a landmark nuclear deal in 2015. President-elect Joe Biden has chosen veteran diplomat William Burns to be the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). President-elect Joe Biden announced Ambassador William Burns as his nominee for director of the CIA on Monday. A former ambassador to Russia … President-elect Joe Biden has named William Burns as his CIA director, choosing a career diplomat to run the notoriously insular and parochial spy agency.. Burns spent 33 … The costs of confusion, mixed signals, and bureaucratic turmoil could be very high.". If confirmed, Burns would become the first leader in the CIA's history whose lifelong experience comes from the State Department. President-elect Joe Biden announced Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, he has chosen the veteran diplomat to be his CIA director. This story has been updated with additional background information. Washington — President-elect Joe Biden has selected Ambassador William Burns, a career diplomat, as his nominee for director of the CIA, his … Burns, who is respected by Democrats and Republicans alike in the foreign policy arena, is expected to receive far easier confirmation. "The American people will sleep soundly with him as our next CIA Director," Biden said in a statement. "Like so many other features of the Trump era, the transition would bear little resemblance to any before, or any of the many I served through as a career diplomat. A … "We are already acting on them. WASHINGTON (AP) — William Burns, a well-known figure in diplomatic circles around the world, is President-elect Joe Biden’s choice to lead the CIA, a selection likely to be embraced by the rank and file at the nation’s premier spy agency. Biden made the announcement on Monday. (CNN) A key Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee is warning President-elect Joe Biden that he should avoid nominating a top contender for the job of CIA director, Mike Morell, … In forming his administration, Biden has tapped many former Obama-era officials with whom he has worked closely or who have years of experience in government. By Liza Hearon President-elect Joe Biden has named as his nominee for CIA director William J. Burns, a veteran diplomat with three decades of service among several administrations, Biden’s transition team said Monday. Tom Donilon no longer in the running to be Biden's CIA director By Jeff Zeleny and Alex Marquardt, CNN Updated 9:12 PM ET, Sun November 29, 2020 (CNN) President-elect … Cohen is currently a partner at the private law firm WilmerHale in Washington, DC, where he had practiced law before joining the Obama administration. (CNN) President-elect Joe Biden on Monday will nominate William Burns as director of the Central Intelligence Agency, CNN has learned, tapping a … Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, a member of the Intelligence Committee, had criticized Morell as a "torture apologist" for his previous suggestions that "enhanced interrogation" of terrorists was effective and moral. Biden was drawn to Burns because of his diplomatic experience and his perceived ability to restore credibility to the intelligence agency in the post-Trump era, people familiar with the matter said, along with his expertise on Russia. A former ambassador to Russia and Jordan, Burns, 64, had a 33-year career at the State Department under both Republican and Democratic presidents. We owe it to our colleagues who lost their lives in Benghazi. Joe Biden set to nominate William Burns as CIA director. But Biden is said to favor Cohen, who served as CIA deputy director during the Obama administration. Before joining the CIA, Cohen served in the Treasury Department as the undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, where he, His office also developed the Obama administration's blueprint for targeting ISIS and other terrorist organizations in the financial realm, which earned him the nickname in the Obama White House the "financial Batman.". 2 at the CIA from 2015 to 2017 in the Obama administration. He has limited experience with China, but otherwise has a extensive portfolio of work in key regions around the globe. He warned of the dangerous consequences of President Donald Trump not accepting election defeat in a prescient, "If he loses, I doubt that he will suddenly embrace the traditional bipartisan commitment to effective transitions. (CNN)David Cohen, a deputy director of the CIA in the last years of the Obama administration, will return to the role, President-elect Joe Biden announced Friday. Earlier this week, Biden tapped veteran American diplomat. Burns, 64, is a … President-elect Joseph Biden will announce Friday the appointment of David Cohen to the role of deputy director of the CIA, according to a transition official. We have to do better. "The appointment of Burns would send an important signal about the revival of public service, which has been demeaned for the past four years, and for the importance of the entire intelligence community, not simply the CIA," Melvin Goodman, who served as a CIA analyst for three decades, wrote in a, "Much of CIA's difficulty over the past 40 years can be attributed to mediocre leadership. Former Deputy CIA Director David Cohen is Joe Biden’s top choice to oversee the spy agency. Biden made the announcement on Monday. ", The decision to select Burns to lead the CIA comes after other top contenders faced criticism for their previous support of torture programs. President-elect Joe Biden will nominate longtime diplomat William Burns to serve as director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the transition committee said in a news release. By The Associated Press Updated January 11, 2021 5:28 PM WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden announced Monday he has chosen veteran diplomat William Burns to … President-elect Joe Biden on Monday announced his intent to nominate former Ambassador William Burns as CIA director, tapping a veteran diplomat to … A former ambassador to Russia and Jordan, Burns, 64, had a … Biden chooses veteran diplomat Burns as CIA director FILE - This Jan. 21, 2014 file-pool photo shows Deputy Secretary of State William Burns talking in … Former acting CIA director Michael Morell, who had been under consideration by Biden, was. President-elect Joe Biden has chosen veteran diplomat William Burns to be his CIA director. President-elect Joe Biden has chosen veteran diplomat William Burns to be his CIA director. The CIA would be the major beneficiary of such an exemplary appointment to an institution that has become too insular and parochial. (CNN)President-elect Joe Biden on Monday will nominate William Burns as director of the Central Intelligence Agency, CNN has learned, tapping a respected veteran American diplomat who has served in posts around the world from the Reagan to the Obama administrations. President-elect Joseph R. Biden on Monday announced William Burns as his pick for CIA director, turning to a career diplomat for his choice to lead … That’s going to be Avril Haines, whom Biden has tapped as … ", Joe Biden set to nominate William Burns as CIA director, FBI director speaks publicly for first time since Capitol riots, Pence makes surprise visit to Capitol to thank National Guard, Biden: Real pain overwhelming the real economy, Watergate icon compares Trump and Nixon's final days in office, 'Fuming': How Trump is reacting to his second impeachment, 15 hours of chaos that led to Trump's impeachment, Former DHS official: You don't get a mulligan on insurrection, Mudd: Here are my 2 concerns with potential protests. He testified at a House hearing in 2012 after then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was unable to because of a concussion. He ended his tenure in 2017 by being awarded the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the CIA's highest honor. Biden chooses veteran diplomat Burns as CIA director President-elect Joe Biden has chosen veteran diplomat William Burns to be his CIA director By MATTHEW LEE AP Diplomatic Writer January 11, 2021, 8:12 AM While all Biden nominees face an easier path to confirmation in a Democratic-controlled Senate, Burns' role in the Benghazi investigation could also be revisited. President-elect Joe Biden has chosen veteran diplomat William Burns to be his CIA director… The CIA director position is not expected to be a formal member of Biden's Cabinet, which represents a change from the Trump administration, but a return to the status it had in the Obama administration. View all (4) US President-elect Joe Biden has chosen William Burns, who served for three decades as a diplomat, to be his CIA director. President-elect Joe Biden on Friday will announce his plan to appoint David Cohen to be CIA deputy director, according to a transition official. While Burns was initially mentioned as a secretary of state nominee for Biden, one longtime CIA analyst made the case for his selection to lead the CIA in a blog post late last year. Burns is a … The position does not require Senate confirmation. Cohen served as the No. Biden chooses veteran diplomat William Burns as his CIA director William Burns, chosen by Biden to head the CIA, built a 33-year career at the State … At best, he'll be consumed by efforts to rationalize his defeat and paint the election as rigged; at worst, he'll seek to contest or undermine the result," Burns wrote. President-elect Joe Biden announced Monday he will nominate William Burns, a career diplomat who has worked under five presidents from both … "Bill Burns is an exemplary diplomat with decades of experience on the world stage keeping our people and our country safe and secure," Biden said. 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