John Owen Brennan
John Owen Brennan was the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) under the Obama administration. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 8, 2013, by a vote of 63-34. He succeeded David Petraeus.[1]
Brennan declined consideration as CIA director in 2008, after Barack Obama's election victory, because of criticism of his support of certain terrorist interrogation tactics. He previously led multiple private technology and intelligence organizations after serving in the CIA for over 20 years.[1]
Biography
Brennan was born in New Jersey and attended Fordham University and earned his M.A. in government from the University of Texas. He also studied at the American University in Cairo during his time in college.[1]
Career
Below is an abbreviated outline of Brennan's academic, professional, and political career:[1]
- 2013-2017: Director of the CIA
- 2009-2013: Assistant to President Obama for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism
- 2008: Intelligence Advisor to Barack Obama's presidential campaign
- 2005-2009: President and CEO of the Analysis Corporation
- 2004-2005: Interim Director of the National Counterterrorism Center
- 2003-2004: Founding Director of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center
- 2001-2003: Deputy Executive Director of the CIA
- 1999-2001: Chief of Staff to CIA Director George Tenet
- 1996-1999: Chief of Station for CIA in Saudi Arabia
- 1995-1996: Executive Assistant to CIA Deputy Director George Tenet
- 1994-1995: Daily Intelligence Briefer for President Bill Clinton
- 1990-1992: Head of Terrorism Analysis for the Director of Intelligence's Counterterrorist Center
- 1984-1989: Worker at Office of Near Eastern and South Asian Analysis in the Directorate of Intelligence
- 1982-1984: Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia
- 1981: Worked at Directorate of Operations of the CIA
- 1980: Career Trainee at Directorate of Operations of the CIA
- 1980: Earned Master's in Government from University of Texas
- 1977: Graduated from Fordham University
Confirmation vote
Brennan was confirmed by the Senate on March 7, 2013, by a vote of 63-34.[2]
| John Brennan confirmation vote, March 7, 2013 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes for  |
Votes against  |
Total votes |
 Democrats |
49 | 2 | 51 |
 Republicans |
13 | 31 | 44 |
 Independents |
1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Votes | 63 | 34 | 97 |
Paul filibuster
On March 6, 2013, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) led a 12-hour filibuster of Brennan's confirmation hearings. Paul started the filibuster in order to highlight his concerns about the administration's drone policies. In particular, Paul said he was concerned about whether a drone could be used to kill an American citizen within the United States borde without any due process involved. Paul and other civil liberties activists argued that Obama did not offer a clear response to the question. A total of 14 senators joined Paul in the filibuster, 13 Republicans and one Democrat.[3][4]
Initiatives and issues
Senate computer spying
- See also: CIA interrogation tactics investigation
The CIA's inspector general discovered that several CIA employees "improperly accessed or caused access" to the Senate Intelligence Committee's computers that were used while investigating the CIA's interrogation tactics.[5] Two lawyers and three computer experts were found to be the culprits of the CIA's snooping. Brennan supposedly put an end to the practice following an internal investigation, but the CIA's office of security opened another investigation—this one unauthorized—that led to the reading of congressional staffers' emails. Brennan apologized to the Senate for the intrusion on July 31, 2014, and he followed up by ordering an internal accountability board look into the action of those involved in the spying operation. A summary of the inspector general's report did not reveal who ordered the operation.[6]
A number of lawmakers immediately called for Brennan's resignation upon hearing of the news, with Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) claiming that the "CIA unconstitutionally spied on Congress. These offenses, along with other errors in judgment by some at the CIA, demonstrate a tremendous failure of leadership, and there must be consequences."[5] Others seeking his resignation included Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.).[7][8]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Brennan is married with three children.[1]
Recent News
This section links to a Google news search for the term John + Brennan + CIA + Director
See also
- Rand Paul filibuster of John Brennan's CIA Nomination in March 2013
- CIA interrogation tactics investigation
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 CNN, "Fast Facts: John Brennan," September 17, 2013
- ↑ GovTrack, "On the Nomination: John Brennan," March 7, 2013
- ↑ CNN, "Rand Paul says he's heard from White House after filibuster," March 7, 2013
- ↑ ABC News, "Rand Paul Wins Applause From GOP and Liberals," March 7, 2013
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Wall Street Journal, "Investigation Finds CIA Improperly accessed Senate Computers," July 31, 2014
- ↑ Christian-Science Monitor, "CIA admits to spying on Senate Intelligence Committee," July 31, 2014
- ↑ The Hill, "Senators call for CIA chief's resignation," July 31, 2014
- ↑ The Atlantic, "Senator Rand Paul: CIA Director John Brennan Should Be Fired," August 1, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by David Petraeus |
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency 2015-2017 |
Succeeded by - |
