History / Offices

Director of Central Intelligence

16 people have held this office since Jan 23, 1946. Vacant or no longer exists.

Holders
16
5 D · 5 R · 4 I · 2 U
Longest tenure
8.8 years
Allen Dulles
Current
—
nobody
history/office/director-of-central-intelligenceEvery holder, newest first
+16
19501960197019801990200020102020Sidney Souers · 1946-01-23 – 1946-06-10Hoyt Vandenberg · 1946-06-10 – 1947-05-01Roscoe Henry Hillenkoetter · 1947-05-01 – 1950-10-07 · IndependentWalter Bedell Smith · 1950-10-07 – 1953-02-09 · IndependentAllen Dulles · 1953-02-26 – 1961-11-29 · DemocratRichard Helms · 1966-06-30 – 1973-02-02 · IndependentJames R. Schlesinger · 1973-02-02 – 1973-07-02 · RepublicanWilliam Colby · 1973-09-04 – 1976-01-30 · IndependentGeorge H. W. Bush · 1976-01-30 – 1977-01-20 · RepublicanStansfield Turner · 1977-03-09 – 1981-01-20 · DemocratWilliam J. Casey · 1981-01-28 – 1987-01-29 · RepublicanWilliam H. Webster · 1987-05-26 – 1991-08-31 · RepublicanRobert Gates · 1991-11-06 – 1993-01-20 · RepublicanR. James Woolsey, Jr. · 1993-02-05 – 1995-01-10 · DemocratJohn M. Deutch · 1995-05-10 – 1996-12-15 · DemocratGeorge Tenet · 1996-12-15 – 2004-07-11 · Democrat
George Tenet D
Dec 15, 1996 – Jul 11, 2004 · 7.6 years · appointed by Bill Clinton
John M. Deutch D
May 10, 1995 – Dec 15, 1996 · 19 months · appointed by Bill Clinton
R. James Woolsey, Jr. D
Feb 5, 1993 – Jan 10, 1995 · 23 months · appointed by Bill Clinton
Robert Gates R
Nov 6, 1991 – Jan 20, 1993 · 14 months · appointed by George H. W. Bush
William H. Webster R
May 26, 1987 – Aug 31, 1991 · 4.3 years · appointed by Ronald Reagan
William J. Casey R
Jan 28, 1981 – Jan 29, 1987 · 6 years · appointed by Ronald Reagan
Stansfield Turner D
Mar 9, 1977 – Jan 20, 1981 · 3.9 years · appointed by Jimmy Carter
George H. W. Bush R
Jan 30, 1976 – Jan 20, 1977 · 12 months · appointed by Gerald Ford
William Colby I
Sep 4, 1973 – Jan 30, 1976 · 2.4 years · appointed by Richard Nixon
James R. Schlesinger R
Feb 2, 1973 – Jul 2, 1973 · 5 months · appointed by Richard Nixon
Richard Helms I
Jun 30, 1966 – Feb 2, 1973 · 6.6 years · appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson
Allen Dulles D
Feb 26, 1953 – Nov 29, 1961 · 8.8 years · appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower
Walter Bedell Smith I
Oct 7, 1950 – Feb 9, 1953 · 2.3 years · appointed by Harry S. Truman
Roscoe Henry Hillenkoetter I
May 1, 1947 – Oct 7, 1950 · 3.4 years · appointed by Harry S. Truman
Hoyt Vandenberg
Jun 10, 1946 – May 1, 1947 · 11 months · appointed by Harry S. Truman
Sidney Souers
Jan 23, 1946 – Jun 10, 1946 · 5 months · appointed by Harry S. Truman

Dates are from Wikidata, which has gaps for some historical offices. Consecutive terms of one person are merged.