Director of Central Intelligence

The Office of United States Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) was established by U.S. President Harry Truman on January 23 1946 with Admiral Sidney Souers occupying the position. The DCI was coordinating intelligence activities among and between the various United States intelligence agencies, also called the American Intelligence Community.

Until April 2005, the DCI also served as de facto Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and was often referred to colloquially as the "CIA Director." After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and the subsequent investigation by the 9/11 Commission, a movement grew to re-organize the Intelligence Community. That movement prompted the creation, on April 21, 2005, of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), in whose purview was the job portfolio that had been performed previously by the Director of Central Intelligence. The latter position then ceased to exist.

List of Directors of Central Intelligence (in chronological order)

DirectorTenureRADM Sidney Souers, USNRJanuary 23 1946–June 10 1946LTG Hoyt S. Vandenberg, USAJune 10 1946–May 1 1947RADM Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter, USNMay 1 1947–October 7, 1950GEN Walter Bedell Smith, USAOctober 7 1950–February 9 1953Allen W. DullesFebruary 26, 1953–November 29, 1961John McConeNovember 29 1961–April 28 1965VADM William Raborn, USN (Ret.)April 28 1965–June 30 1966Richard M. HelmsJune 30 1966–February 2 1973James R. SchlesingerFebruary 2, 1973–July 2 1973William E. ColbySeptember 4 1973–January 30 1976George H. W. BushJanuary 30 1976–January 20 1977ADM Stansfield Turner, USN (Ret.)March 9 1977–January 20 1981William J. CaseyJanuary 28 1981–January 29 1987William H. WebsterMay 26 1987–August 31 1991Robert M. GatesNovember 6 1991–January 20 1993R. James Woolsey</td>February 5 1993–January 10 1995John M. DeutchMay 10 1995–December 15 1996George J. TenetJuly 11 1997–July 11, 2004Porter J. GossSeptember 24, 2004–April 21, 2005Position replaced by Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and Director of National Intelligence.

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