23 May 2006
U.S. Air Force General One Step Closer to Heading CIA
Senate Intelligence Committee approves Hayden nomination
By David McKeeby
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington – The U.S. Senate’s Select Committee on Intelligence approved President Bush’s nominee to head the Central Intelligence Agency, bringing Air Force General Michael Hayden one step closer toward a leading role in the American intelligence community.
The 15-member committee met for an hour behind closed doors on May 23, then announced approval of Hayden’s nomination by a 12-3 vote.
Hayden’s nomination now will be referred to the full Senate for consideration and a confirmation vote, which committee chairman Senator Pat Roberts said was likely by the end of the week. If confirmed by the Senate, Hayden will become the 20th director of the CIA.
The president nominated Hayden on May 8, following the resignation of Porter Goss. (See related article.)
On May 18, Hayden testified before the Select Committee in public and private sessions for several hours. (See related article.)
Prior to his nomination, Hayden served in the military for 37 years. He has been deputy to Director of National Intelligence (DNI) John Negroponte since 2005.
Hayden was the head of the National Security Agency (NSA) from 1999 to 2005, and held intelligence posts in Bulgaria, Germany and South Korea at various points in his career.
For more information on U.S. intelligence and national security policy, see International Security.
A transcript (PDF, 171 pages) of Hayden’s May 18 hearing before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee is available on the DNI Web site. A May 8 White House fact sheet on Hayden’s background is posted on the White House Web site. For additional information about Hayden, his official biography is also available on the DNI Web site.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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