Executive Summary
Former US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) John Lee Ratcliffe has leveraged his communication skills and extensive network to position himself as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. A successful lawyer and politician, he is also a trusted ally of President Donald Trump. Ratcliffe’s strong support of Trump during the controversial 2019 election interference investigations solidified his status within the president’s circle of confidence.
Ratcliffe, who has not served in the military and lacked intelligence experience prior to his prior appointment as DNI, is known for his assertive views on national security regarding threats posed by China and Iran. His appointment is expected to drive a more aggressive U.S. position toward Beijing and Tehran. These inclinations signal a shift toward a more confrontational approach in addressing global adversaries. Ratcliffe has also come out against the politicization of intelligence, vowing to remove any partisanship at CIA under his watch, and has advocated for stronger offensive cyber capabilities in the US arsenal.
Profile of John Ratcliffe
John Ratcliffe was born on 20 October 1965 in Mount Prospect, Illinois, where he grew up. He was the youngest of six kids, with parents who were both teachers. He earned a degree in government and international studies from the University of Notre Dame.
Ratcliffe met his wife Michele Ratcliffe, also an accomplished lawyer, while attending Southern Methodist University School of Law (now Dedman School of Law), where he received his Juris Doctor degree. They have two daughters together. He is a Roman Catholic and leans hard conservative on political issues.
Ratcliffe started his career as a private practice lawyer after graduating from law school in 1989, but left in 2004 to transition into public service. One of his first roles was with the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Texas, where he was appointed by President George W. Bush to be Chief of Anti-Terrorism and National Security for the District. In 2007, officials named John Ratcliffe U.S. Attorney for that district. During 2009, he went back into private practice.
In a second public service role after leaving the legal profession, from 2004 to 2012 he served four consecutive terms as the mayor of Heath, Texas.
In January 2015, voters elected him to serve in the House of Representatives. Where he remained until May 2020, when he was asked by Trump to serve as the DNI. After the first Trump administration, Ratcliffe became a fellow at the Heritage Foundation. In November 2024, he was nominated by Trump to be the director of the CIA in the upcoming administration. On 23 January 2025, Ratcliffe was confirmed as the new director. Ratcliffe has not served in the military and did not have intelligence experience prior to his appointment as DNI.
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