William Burns

Bill Burns, who became Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in 2021, is the first career diplomat to lead the Agency. Director Burns holds the highest rank in the Foreign Service –Career Ambassador- and is only the second serving career diplomat in history to become Deputy Secretary of State. Director Burns retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2014 before becoming president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Prior to his tenure as Deputy Secretary of State, he served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 2008-2011, U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 2005-2008, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from 2001-2005, and U. S. Ambassador to Jordan from 1998-2001.