William Joseph Burns

**William Joseph Burns** (born April 11, 1956) is an American politician. Burns was the 8th Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from March 19, 2021 until January 20, 2025 during the Joe Biden administration. He was President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He was United States Deputy Secretary of State from 2011 to 2014.

He was Ambassador of the United States to Jordan from 1998 to 2001, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs from 2001 to 2005, Ambassador of the United States to the Russian Federation from 2005 to 2008, and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 2008 to 2011.

On January 11, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden nominated him to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. On March 18, 2021 the United States Senate confirmed his nomination.

In July 2023, Biden elevated Burns to a position in his cabinet, a largely symbolic action.

## Other websites

- United States Embassy in Moscow: Biography of the Ambassador

## Infobox (scientist)

- **embed**: yes
- **thesis title**: Economic Aid and American Policy toward Egypt, 1955-1981
- **thesis year**: 1985


## Infobox (officeholder)

- **image**: CIA Director Burns.jpg
- **office**: 8th Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
- **president**: Joe Biden
- **term start**: March 19 2021
- **term end**: January 20, 2025
- **deputy**: David S. Cohen (attorney), David S. Cohen
- **predecessor**: Gina Haspel
- **successor**: John Ratcliffe
- **office1**: 17th United States Deputy Secretary of State
- **president1**: Barack Obama
- **term start1**: July 28, 2011
- **term end1**: November 3, 2014
- **predecessor1**: James Steinberg
- **successor1**: Antony Blinken
- **office2**: United States Secretary of State
- **status2**: Acting
- **president2**: Barack Obama
- **term start2**: January 20, 2009
- **term end2**: January 21, 2009
- **predecessor2**: Condoleezza Rice
- **successor2**: Hillary Clinton
- **office3**: Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
- **president3**: George W. Bush
Barack Obama
- **term start3**: May 13, 2008
- **term end3**: July 28, 2011
- **predecessor3**: R. Nicholas Burns
- **successor3**: Wendy Sherman
- **office4**: 5th United States Ambassador to Russia
- **president4**: George W. Bush
- **term start4**: November 8, 2005
- **term end4**: May 13, 2008
- **predecessor4**: Alexander Vershbow
- **successor4**: John Beyrle
- **office5**: Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs
- **president5**: George W. Bush
- **term start5**: June 4, 2001
- **term end5**: March 2, 2005
- **predecessor5**: Edward S. Walker Jr.
- **successor5**: David Welch (diplomat), David Welch
- **office6**: United States Ambassador to Jordan
- **president6**: Bill Clinton
George W. Bush
- **term start6**: August 9, 1998
- **term end6**: June 4, 2001
- **predecessor6**: Wesley Egan
- **successor6**: Edward Gnehm
- **office7**: Executive Secretary of the United States Department of State
- **president7**: Bill Clinton
- **term start7**: January 16, 1996
- **term end7**: February 27, 1998
- **predecessor7**: Kenneth C. Brill
- **successor7**: Kristie Kenney
- **birth place**: Fort Bragg, North Carolina, U.S.
- **education**: La Salle University (Bachelor of Arts, BA)
St John's College, Oxford (Master of Philosophy, MPhil, Doctor of Philosophy, DPhil)