President Obama Set to Appoint a New Director of National Intelligence

UPDATE: The Washington Post (5-22-10) reports that "[James R.] Clapper, who has spent more than 45 years in intelligence work, is the leading candidate to become the next DNI." [See James Clapper's Wikipedia entry.]

ABC News (5-20-10) reports:

President Obama will replace the Director of National Intelligence, Admiral Dennis Blair (ret.).

Admiral Blair announced that he will step down on Friday, May 28.

If I were President, I would ask the former Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Stephen Kappes, who retired from the CIA earlier this month, to become the Director of National Intelligence.

On May 20, Admiral Blair issued the following statement:

"It is with deep regret that I informed the President today that I will step down as Director of National Intelligence effective Friday, May 28th.

I have had no greater honor or pleasure than to lead the remarkably talented and patriotic men and women of the Intelligence Community.

Every day, you have worked tirelessly to provide intelligence support for two wars and to prevent an attack on our homeland. You are true heroes, just like the members of the Armed Forces, firefighters, and police whose job it is to keep our nation safe.

Your work over the past 16 months has made the Intelligence Community more integrated, agile, and representative of American values. Keep it up – I will be cheering for you."