William J. Burns

William Joseph Burns is an American diplomat who has served in several senior positions within the U.S. government and international organizations. Born on April 4, 1956, he entered the Foreign Service in 1982 and rose through a series of postings that included ambassadorial roles to Jordan and Russia, as well as leadership positions such as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and Deputy Secretary of State. Burns briefly held the office of United States Secretary of State on an acting basis in 2009 before being succeeded by Hillary Clinton. In addition to his diplomatic career, he was appointed Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) by President Joe Biden in March 2021, a position he held until January 2025. Between retiring from the Foreign Service in 2014 and assuming the CIA directorship, Burns served as president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Early life and career

William J. Burns was born at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Peggy Cassady and William F. Burns, a United States Army major general who later held several senior positions in arms control and disarmament during the Reagan administration. Growing up in a family with deep ties to U.S. foreign policy, Burns attended Trinity High School in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, where he graduated as valedictorian in 1973.

He pursued higher education at La Salle University, earning a degree in history with honors in 1978. His academic achievements earned him a Marshall Scholarship, allowing him to study at the University of Oxford. At Oxford, Burns completed an M.Phil. and a D.Phil. in international relations from St. John’s College. His doctoral thesis, titled *Economic Aid and American Policy toward Egypt, 1955–1981*, was finished in 1985. While at Oxford he also played on the university’s men's basketball team.

Burns entered the U.S. Foreign Service in 1982, beginning a career that would span more than three decades. Early assignments included serving as Executive Secretary of the State Department and as special assistant to Secretaries of State Warren Christopher and Madeleine Albright. He was also minister‑counselor for political affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, where he gained experience in Russian affairs that would later inform his ambassadorship.

From 1998 to 2001, Burns served as United States Ambassador to Jordan. In 2001 he became Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, a role he held until 2005. He was appointed Ambassador to Russia from 2005 to 2008 and subsequently served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs between 2008 and 2011. During this period, in 2008 President George W. Bush nominated him to the rank of career ambassador, the highest distinction within the Foreign Service.

In 2011 Burns was appointed Deputy Secretary of State, a position he held until 2014. After retiring from active diplomatic service that year, he became president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, leading the organization through its work on global security and policy research until 2021.

Cabinet tenure

Burns’s most direct involvement with the U.S. cabinet occurred in early 2009 when he served as Acting Secretary of State for a single day. This brief tenure took place between the departure of then‑Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the confirmation of Hillary Clinton by the Senate. Although his time in office was short, it placed him at the helm of the Department of State during a transitional period.

Following his retirement from the Foreign Service, Burns returned to government service when President Joe Biden nominated him as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency on March 18, 2021. The nomination was confirmed by the Senate via voice vote and he was sworn in officially on March 19, 2021; Vice President Kamala Harris later conducted a ceremonial swearing‑in on March 23. Burns served as CIA director until January 20, 2025, overseeing the agency’s intelligence activities during a period that included significant geopolitical developments.

In July 2023, President Biden elevated Burns to a cabinet-level position in a largely symbolic action, reflecting his continued involvement in national security and foreign policy matters at the highest level of government.

Legacy

William J. Burns’s career is marked by extensive experience across multiple regions and policy areas. His early work in Russia and the Middle East provided him with deep knowledge of complex diplomatic environments. As Ambassador to Russia, he was noted for maintaining professional respect among Russian officials even as bilateral relations faced challenges. In his capacity as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and later as Deputy Secretary, Burns contributed to U.S. policy formulation during a period that included significant events in the Middle East.

Burns also played a role in the secretive diplomatic efforts with Iran that led to an interim agreement between Iranian officials and the P5 + 1 group. His involvement in these negotiations underscored his experience in back‑channel diplomacy, a skill that was valuable during his tenure as Deputy Secretary of State.

After leaving active diplomatic service, Burns’s leadership at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace allowed him to influence scholarly discussion on international security and policy. His later appointment as CIA director positioned him at the center of U.S. intelligence operations, where he oversaw a broad range of activities related to national security.

Throughout his career, Burns has been recognized for his professionalism and depth of expertise in foreign affairs. His service across multiple administrations and roles—ranging from ambassadorial posts to senior positions within the State Department and the CIA—reflects a long-standing commitment to U.S. diplomatic and intelligence efforts on the global stage.