Brett M. Holmgren

Last updated
Dana Remus
(m. 2018)
Brett Holmgren
Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Brett Holmgren Official Portrait.jpg
Acting Director of the National Counterterrorism Center
Assumed office
July 5, 2024
Education University of Wisconsin, Madison (BA)
Johns Hopkins University (MA)

Brett Michael Holmgren is an American intelligence official who served as assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research in the Biden administration. [3] He currently serves as the acting director for the National Counterterrorism Center. [4]

Contents

Education

Holmgren earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and journalism from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Master of Arts degree, summa cum laude , in global security studies from Johns Hopkins University. [5] [6]

Career

For fourteen years Holmgren held top leadership positions the Intelligence Community (IC), in the White House and at the Department of Defense, including three years in the private industry, before becoming Assistant Secretary. [7] He began his government service as a counterterrorism analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency and served as the special assistant to the deputy secretary of defense, director for counterterrorism at the United States National Security Council, and a political analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency. He also served as special assistant to the president and senior director for intelligence programs at the National Security Council, where he also previously served as senior policy advisor to the Homeland Security advisor. [8] He was most recently the vice president for technology risk management at Capital One. He was also a deputy for nominations on the Biden–Harris transition team and co-chair of the intelligence working group for the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign. [5] On September 13, 2021, Holmgren was confirmed by the United States Senate by voice vote. [9] He was sworn in on September 15, 2021. [10] Holmgren appointed acting Director of National Counterterrorism Center on July 5, 2024. [11]

Awards and recognition

Holmgren is the recipient of numerous performance awards, including the National Intelligence Superior Service Medal, the Central Intelligence Agency Director's award, and the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award. [5]

Personal life

Holmgren grew up in Minnesota with his parents and three siblings. [12] Holmgren married lawyer and government official Dana Remus in 2018. Their wedding was officiated by Barack Obama. [13] [14] They have one son. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Director of National Intelligence</span> US Cabinet-level government official

The director of national intelligence (DNI) is a senior cabinet-level United States government official, required by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to serve as executive head of the United States Intelligence Community (IC) and to direct and oversee the National Intelligence Program (NIP). All IC agencies report directly to the DNI. The DNI also serves, upon invitation, as an advisor to the president of the United States, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council on all intelligence matters. The DNI, supported by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), produces the President's Daily Brief (PDB), a classified document including intelligence from all IC agencies, handed each morning to the president of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bureau of Intelligence and Research</span> Intelligence agency in the U.S. State Department

The Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) is an intelligence agency in the United States Department of State. Its central mission is to provide all-source intelligence and analysis in support of U.S. diplomacy and foreign policy. INR is the oldest civilian element of the U.S. Intelligence Community and among the smallest, with roughly 300 personnel. Though lacking the resources and technology of other U.S. intelligence agencies, it is "one of the most highly regarded" for the quality of its work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act</span> Act of Congress

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) is a 235-page Act of Congress, signed by President George W. Bush, that broadly affects United States federal terrorism laws. The act comprises several separate titles with varying subject issues. It was enacted in response to the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Counterterrorism Center</span> U.S. government organization responsible for national and international counterterrorism efforts

The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) is a United States government organization responsible for national and international counterterrorism efforts. It is based in Liberty Crossing in McLean, Virginia. NCTC advises the United States on terrorism.

The National Intelligence Board (NIB), formerly the National Foreign Intelligence Board and before that the United States Intelligence Board is a body of senior U.S. Intelligence Community leaders currently led by the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). The Board is tasked with reviewing and approving National Intelligence Estimates (NIEs).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Maguire</span> American government official and Navy admiral (born 1951)

Joseph Maguire is an American officer who served as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center and Acting Director of National Intelligence under President Donald Trump. He retired from the United States Navy as a vice admiral in 2010 after 36 years of military service. Prior to retiring from active duty, he was the deputy director for strategic operational planning at National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Leiter</span> Director of the US National Counterterrorism Center (2007–2011)

Michael E. Leiter is the former director of the United States National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), having served in the Bush administration and been retained in the Obama administration. A statement released by the White House announced his resignation, effective July 8, 2011. His successor, Matthew G. Olsen, was sworn in on August 16, 2011. In September 2017, Leiter joined international law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in Washington, D.C. as a partner in its national security practice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew G. Olsen</span> American prosecutor (born 1962)

Matthew Glen Olsen is an American attorney who has served as the Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division since 2021. He is the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenneth L. Wainstein</span> American lawyer and government official (born 1962)

Kenneth Leonard Wainstein is an American lawyer. He served as the first Assistant Attorney General for National Security, and later as the Homeland Security Advisor to United States President George W. Bush. In 2022 under the Biden administration, he was appointed Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Intelligence and Analysis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Monaco</span> American attorney and national security official (born 1968)

Lisa Oudens Monaco is an American attorney, former federal prosecutor and national security official who has served as the thirty-ninth United States deputy attorney general since April 21, 2021. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholas Rasmussen</span> Director of the National Counterterrorism Center

Nicholas J. Rasmussen is the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), a United States government organization. He was sworn in on December 18, 2014 and was replaced by Russell Travers on December 24, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ezra Cohen</span> American intelligence official (born 1986)

Ezra Cohen, also known as Ezra Cohen-Watnick, is an American intelligence official who served as the acting under secretary of defense for intelligence during the Trump Administration. He previously served as the acting assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, national security adviser to the United States attorney general and as a former senior director for intelligence programs for the United States National Security Council (NSC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Sherman (intelligence)</span> American intelligence government official

John Bradley Sherman is an American intelligence official who had served as the chief information officer at the Department of Defense from December 17, 2021 to June 2024. Prior to that, he served from June 2020 to January 2021 as the Principal Deputy DOD Chief Information Officer. Between 2017 and 2020 he served as Associate Director and Chief Information Officer of the Intelligence Community (IC) at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russell Travers</span> American government official

Russell E. Travers is an American national security official who served as the deputy director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). Travers first took the role on November 13, 2017, and later became acting director. He resumed his duties as deputy on December 28, 2018, following Joseph Maguire's swearing in as NCTC director. Travers again became acting director on August 16, 2019, after Maguire became Acting Director of National Intelligence. He was dismissed on March 18, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher C. Miller</span> American government official, retired US Army officer (born 1965)

Christopher Charles Miller is an American retired United States Army Special Forces colonel who served as acting United States secretary of defense from November 9, 2020, to January 20, 2021. He previously served as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center from August 10 to November 9, 2020. Before his civilian service in the Department of Defense, Miller was a Green Beret, commanding 5th Special Forces Group in Iraq and Afghanistan, and later spent time as a defense contractor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dana Remus</span> American lawyer

Dana Ann Remus is an American lawyer who served as White House counsel for U.S. President Joe Biden from January 2021 to July 2022. Prior to her appointment as White House counsel, Remus was general counsel for Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign. Earlier in her career, she was deputy assistant to the president and deputy counsel for ethics during the presidency of Barack Obama, was general counsel for the Obama Foundation from 2017 to 2019, and was counsel to Michelle Obama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lora Shiao</span> American intelligence officer

Lora Shiao is an American intelligence officer serving as the chief operating officer of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. She served as the Acting Director of National Intelligence from January 20, 2021 to January 21, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christine Abizaid</span> American intelligence officer (born 1979)

Christine Sandra Abizaid is an American intelligence officer who was the director of the National Counterterrorism Center in the Biden administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Maier</span> American government official

Christopher Paul Maier is an American government official who is the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict. He previously served as the Principal Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict.

References

  1. https://www.state.gov/biographies/brett-m-holmgren
  2. https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/q-bholmgren-051821.pdf
  3. Intelligence, Office of the Director of National. "Dept. of State Bureau of Intelligence and Research". www.intelligence.gov. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  4. "DNI Haines Thanks NCTC Director Christy Abizaid, Welcomes Acting Director Brett Holmgren". www.dni.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  5. 1 2 3 "President Biden Announces his Intent to Nominate Key Members for the Department of State" White House, March 26, 2021 PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  6. "Holmgren, Brett". Department of Political Science. 9 September 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-08-08. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  7. "Brett M. Holmgren". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2022-05-06.
  8. "Brett Holmgren on working inside the Oval | College of Letters & Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison (en-US)". ls.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  9. "PN273 - Nomination of Brett M. Holmgren for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  10. "Brett M. Holmgren". United States Department of State. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  11. https://www.dni.gov/index.php/nctc-who-we-are/director-nctc
  12. 1 2 "Statement of Brett Holmgren Nominee for Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Senate Foreign Relations Committee" (PDF). foreign.senate.gov. June 15, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  13. Shear, Michael D. (November 18, 2020). "Dana Remus Has Taken an Unlikely Path to the White House Counsel's Office". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  14. "President Obama Officiated at a Wedding in DC This Past Weekend | Washingtonian (DC)". Washingtonian. January 23, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
Political offices
Preceded by
Kin W. Moy
Acting
Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research
2021–2024