The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) is a United States government organization responsible for national and international counterterrorism efforts. It is based at Liberty Crossing in McLean, Virginia. The NCTC advises the United States on terrorism.

Part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the center brings together specialists from other federal agencies, including the CIA, the FBI, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security.Elliot, Phillip (January 2, 2010). "Obama says al-Qaida affiliate in Yemen apparently responsible for airliner bombing plot". 680 News. Associated Press. Accessed January 2, 1010.

History The idea of a center to merge intelligence on terror threats was proposed by the 9/11 Commission following the completion of its investigation into the September 11 attacks, the deadliest terrorist attack in world history. Plans to create such a center were announced by President George W. Bush in his January 2003 State of the Union address. On May 1, 2003, Executive Order 13354 established the Terrorist Threat Integration Center (TTIC).

In 2004, the center was renamed the NCTC and placed under the director of national intelligence by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act.

After the Christmas 2009 terrorist attempt on Northwest Airlines Flight 253, the NCTC was tasked with creating a process to "thoroughly and exhaustively" prioritize terrorism threat threads; identify follow-up action by intelligence, law enforcement, and homeland security; and enhance the "Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment" database, to add names to watchlists.

In 2012, United States attorney general Eric Holder granted the NCTC the authority to collect, store, and analyze extensive data collections on U.S. citizens compiled from governmental and non-governmental sources for suspicious behavior through pattern analysis and to share the databases with foreign states. The effort has drawn controversy for its pre-crime effort, which has been likened to the Information Awareness Office and its proposed mass surveillance.

In August 2019, The Daily Beast reported that the NCTC had begun to work on counterintelligence to combat domestic terrorism.

Activities The center analyzes terrorism intelligence including potential domestic threat intelligence; monitors communications internationally and domestically for potential threats; generates actionable information to potentially prevent criminal acts domestically; stores terrorism information; supports U.S. counterterrorism activities using information technology (IT); and plans counter-terrorism activities as directed by the president of the United States, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council.

It provides terrorism information to the intelligence community; makes detailed lists of terrorists, terrorist groups, and worldwide terrorist incidents; supports the response to terrorist incidents in the United States and worldwide; and writes assessments and briefings for policymakers.

The NCTC has access to various databases, including those from the NSA and the CIA, and is in charge of the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE) database.DeYoung Karen (January 7, 2010). "After attempted airline bombing, effectiveness of intelligence reforms questioned". The Washington Post. It also operates the publicly accessible Worldwide Incidents Tracking System database.

The NCTC's Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE) database contains more than 1.2 million identities of people who are known to be terrorists, suspected of it, or linked to people who are.

Leaders Directors Source:

ImageDirectorTerm startTerm endAppointed by(Acting) John O. Brennan August 27, 2004 August 1, 2005George W. Bush 1 John Scott Redd August 1, 2005 November 10, 2007(Acting)Michael E. Leiter November 10, 2007 June 12, 2008 2 June 12, 2008 July 8, 2011 3 Matthew G. Olsen August 16, 2011 July 9, 2014Barack Obama 4 Nicholas Rasmussen December 18, 2014 December 24, 2017(Acting) Russell Travers December 24, 2017 December 27, 2018Donald Trump 5 Joseph Maguire December 27, 2018 August 15, 2019(Acting) Russell Travers August 16, 2019 March 18, 2020(Acting) Lora Shiao April 3, 2020 August 10, 2020 6 Christopher C. Miller August 10, 2020 November 9, 2020(Acting) - Steve Vanech November 10, 2020 June 29, 2021 7 Christine Abizaid June 29, 2021 July 5, 2024Joe Biden(Acting) Brett M. Holmgren July 5, 2024 January 20, 2025(Acting) Don Holstead January 20, 2025 May 9, 2025Donald Trump 8 Joe Kent July 31, 2025 March 17, 2026(Acting) Joe Weirsky March 17, 2026 Present

Deputy directors Arthur M. Cummings (2004–05) Kevin R. Brock (2005–07) Michael E. Leiter (2007–08) Geoff O'Connell (2008–2011) Andrew Liepman (2011–2012) Nicholas J. Rasmussen (2012–2014) L. Joseph Camilleri (2016–2017) John J. Mulligan Lora Shiao (April 3, 2020 – October 2020) Steve Vanech (November 10, 2020 – March 2024) Don Holstead (March 2024 – May 9, 2025) Kelton Jago (May 2025 – October 2025) Joseph Weirsky (October 2025 – Present)

See also Director of Central Intelligence Directive Counterterrorism Center Information Sharing Environment Disposition Matrix Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre – a similar body in the UK

References

External links

NCTC Website Office of the Director of National Intelligence Website NCTC News Story on Appointment of Michael Leiter and retirement of Kevin Brock News about new NCTC on FBI website BBC News article with internal photograph A Comparison of the 2008 and 2012 NCTC Guidelines, WSJ