For Immediate Release: July 11, 2025
CIA Announces Dustin Gard-Weiss as Executive Director
CIA Director John Ratcliffe is pleased to announce Dustin J. Gard-Weiss as the Agency’s next Executive Director (EXDIR). Mr. Gard-Weiss will join the Agency with more than 20 years of senior leadership experience across defense, national security, and intelligence missions.
Most recently, Mr. Gard-Weiss served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense performing the duties of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, where he was the principal advisor on intelligence, counterintelligence, law enforcement, and security matters to the Secretary of Defense and senior Department of Defense (DoD) leadership. In this role, he oversaw the Military Intelligence Program and exercised oversight of the Defense Intelligence and Security Enterprises.
Before joining the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Mr. Gard-Weiss served in multiple senior roles at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence helping develop strategies and policies to prepare the IC for emerging threats and challenges, and enabling responsible execution of IC resources.
The EXDIR will replace the role of the Chief Operating Officer.
“Dustin is an outstanding leader with a wealth of experience in the Intelligence Community, and we are deeply fortunate to count him as a member of CIA’s senior leadership team,” said Director Ratcliffe.
“I am delighted to work alongside Director Ratcliffe and Deputy Director Michael Ellis to help build a more resilient and efficient CIA,” said Mr. Gard-Weiss. “It is the honor of my career to enable the CIA workforce to accomplish their exceptional mission.”
# # #