- Vietnam War veteran
- Retired three-star Air Force general
- Former director of Defense Intelligence Agency
- Former head of National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
- Current Pentagon intelligence official
President Barack Obama has nominated retired Gen James Clapper, a top Pentagon official, as his next intelligence chief.
If confirmed, he will replace Adm Dennis Blair, who resigned in May after a run of security failures, as director of national intelligence (DNI).
The new DNI will oversee 16 agencies in the intelligence community.
Mr Obama has urged the US Senate to confirm Gen Clapper's nomination swiftly.
Mixed reviewsGen Clapper is likely to have a tough time winning over Capitol Hill.
Some in Congress have expressed objections to his nomination because of his combative style during hearings and his focus on defence department issues.
The senior Democrat and the senior Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, which will confirm Gen Clapper in his new role, had each previously publicly opposed his nomination.
