William J. Burns (diplomat)
William J. Burns | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2021 | |
| 8th Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | |
| In office March 19, 2021 – January 20, 2025 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
| 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) is an American diplomat and served as the 8th director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) during the Biden administration from March 19, 2021 to January 20, 2025. 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.
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.
In January 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Burns to become CIA director. He was unanimously confirmed by voice vote in the Senate on March 18, 2021, sworn in officially as director on March 19, as well as ceremonially sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on March 23. In July 2023, Biden elevated Burns to a position in his cabinet, a largely symbolic action.