Why He Matters
As deputy director, Michael Morell is the second most powerful person at the Central Intelligence Agency. Morell assumed this position as the CIA came under scrutiny following a bomb attempt on Christmas Day 2009. An investigation by the Senate Intelligence Committee released May 18, 2010, found that the CIA’s failure to disseminate information could have led to the prevention of the bomb attempt on Northwest flight 253.
Path to Power
Morell started his CIA career in 1980 as a 21-year old economic analyst with a salary of $15,193.
He then spent 14 years as an analyst and manager of East Asia Intelligence. In 1999 he was promoted to director of the CIA’s office of Asian, Pacific and Latin American Analysis.
Later, as a briefer to both Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Morell met with the commanders-in-chief daily. Morell was with Bush on Sept. 11, 2001.
From 2003 to 2006 Morell took an undisclosed overseas assignment. Back stateside in 2006, he was deputy director for intelligence at the National Counterterrorism Center for three months before he was appointed the first associate deputy director from 2006 to 2008. He then served as the director for intelligence from 2008 to 2010, his last position before deputy director.
The Issues
After years overseas as the director of the Office of Asia, Pacific and Latin America Analysis, Morell has an expertise and interest in Asia. He has written intelligence reports on the energy sector, Southeast Asia economic developments and Philippine politics.
Following the Christmas bomber attempt, Morell became the CIA’s point person in counterterrorism intelligence and analysis.
He has been an advocate for integrating intelligence analysis with operations.
The Network
CIA Director Michael Hayden, former CIA Deputy Director John McLaughlin and former senior CIA operations officer Rob Richer.
At a Glance
Current Position: Deputy Director of the CIA
Career History:
Director for Intelligence (2008-2010); Associate Deputy Director (2006-2008); An overseas deployment (2003-2006)
Birthday: Sept. 4, 1958
Hometown: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Alma Mater: University of Akron, BA in economics, 1980; Georgetown University, MA in economics, 1984
Spouse: Married with three children.
Religion:
DC Office: CIA Headquarters, Langley, Virginia
Web site: www.cia.gov