CIA Director and Wash100 Award winner William Burns has been appointed to the White House Cabinet.
In a statement issued Friday, President Joe Biden acknowledged the impact of Burns’ leadership on the country’s approach to competition with China, as well as the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“Bill has always given me clear, straightforward analysis that prioritizes the safety and security of the American people, reflecting the integral role the CIA plays in our national security decision-making at this critical time,” Biden said. “He leads with dignity and represents the very best of America, and I look forward to continuing to work with him in the years ahead.”
Burns is a repeatedly decorated veteran of the intelligence community, with three Presidential Distinguished Service Awards under his belt. His career has taken him from the National Security Council, where he was special assistant to the president, to the U.S. Embassies in Jordan and in Moscow, Russia.
He worked in various roles at the Department of State before ascending to the post of the agency’s deputy secretary. In 2014, he retired from the State Department U.S. Foreign Service, and in 2021 became the first career diplomat to be named CIA director.
