The General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) serves as the agency’s chief legal officer, responsible for overseeing all legal matters related to CIA operations, policies, and activities. The position ensures that the agency operates within U.S. law, executive orders, and applicable international legal frameworks while fulfilling its national security mission. This person also acts as the Chief of the Office of General Counsel (OGC), and oversees the staff of this office.
List of General Counsels of the Central Intelligence Agency The longest serving General Counsel to date was also the first to hold the office, Larry Houston, who held the office for over 26 years, and alongside his lifelong Deputy General Counsel, John S. Warner, also helped write many of the laws that established the office itself.
In 1996, Congress amended the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 to require that the CIA's General Counsel be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. This legislative change aimed to enhance accountability and strengthen oversight of the CIA's legal affairs. It's important to note that while Jeffrey H. Smith served as General Counsel from 1995 to 1996, his appointment did not require Senate confirmation, as it occurred before the legislative change.
Following Jeffrey H. Smith's tenure as General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 1995 to 1996, the position became subject to Senate confirmation due to these legislative changes in 1996. The first individual to be nominated and confirmed under this new requirement was Scott W. Muller, who served as General Counsel from 2002 to 2004. Between 1996 and 2002, John A. Rizzo served as Acting General Counsel, but his formal nomination in 2007 was withdrawn before confirmation. PortraitNameTerm of officeDirector(s)President(s)Took officeLeft officeTime in office1Larry HoustonEstablishment of CIA1973Over 26 yearsRoscoe H. Hillenkoetter Walter Bedell Smith
Allen Dulles
John A. McCone
William F. Raborn
Richard HelmsHarry S. Truman Dwight D. Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
Richard Nixon2John S. Warner19731976Approx. 3 yearsJames R. Schlesinger William ColbyRichard Nixon Gerald Ford3Anthony A. LaphamJune 1, 1976May 9, 19791072 daysGeorge H.W. Bush Stansfield TurnerGerald Ford Jimmy Carter4Daniel B. SilverMay 9, 1979February 4, 1981637 daysStansfield TurnerJimmy Carter5Stanley Sporkin 19811985Approx. 4 yearsWilliam J. CaseyRonald Reagan6David P. Doherty1985January 13, 1988Approx. 3 yearsWilliam J. Casey William H. WebsterRonald Reagan7Russell J. BruemmerJanuary 16, 1988April 16, 1990821 daysWilliam H. WebsterRonald Reagan George H. W. Bush8Elizabeth Rindskopf ParkerApril 1990March 1995Approx. 5 yearsWilliam H. Webster Robert Gates
James WoolseyGeorge H. W. Bush Bill Clinton9Jeffrey H. Smith19951996Approx. 1 yearJohn M. DeutchBill Clinton10Michael J. O'Neil19972001Approx. 4 yearsGeorge TenetBill Clinton—John A. Rizzo20012002Approx. 1 yearGeorge TenetBill Clinton11Scott W. Muller20022004Approx. 2 yearsGeorge TenetGeorge W. Bush—John A. Rizzo20042009Approx. 5 yearsPorter Goss Michael HaydenGeorge W. Bush12Stephen W. PrestonJuly 2009October 25, 2013Approx. 4 yearsLeon Panetta David Petraeus
John BrennanBarack Obama—Robert EatingerOctober 25, 2013March 13, 2014139 daysJohn BrennanBarack Obama13Caroline D. KrassMarch 13, 2014May 2017Approx. 3 yearsJohn Brennan Mike PompeoBarack Obama Donald Trump14Courtney Simmons Elwood June 6, 2017January 20, 20211689 daysMike Pompeo Gina HaspelDonald Trump15Kate HeinzelmanJuly 14, 2022 January 20, 2025921 daysWilliam J. BurnsJoe Biden—Giovanni Price January 20, 2025October 6, 2025259 daysTom Sylvester John RatcliffeDonald Trump—Michael EllisOctober 6, 2025January 8, 202694 daysJohn RatcliffeDonald Trump16Joshua SimmonsJanuary 8, 2026PresentJohn RatcliffeDonald Trump
See also
CIA's relationship with the United States Congress CIA's relationship with the United States Military
References