Statement for the Record by
James R. Clapper, Jr.
Nominee for the Position of
Director of National Intelligence
Before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
United States Senate
20 July 2010

Madam Chairman, Vice Chairman Bond, and distinguished
Members of the Committee, it is a privilege to appear before you
today as the President’s nominee for Director of National
Intelligence. I am truly honored that the President has
confidence in my ability to lead our Intelligence Community.
My deepest appreciation goes out to him for the nomination, and
my sincere thanks to all of you, the overseers of our nation’s
intelligence services, for the opportunity to address you and
answer your questions here today.
When President Obama asked me to lead this organization he
said he wanted someone who could build the Intelligence
Community into an integrated team that produces quality,
timely, and accurate intelligence; be his principal intelligence
advisor; be the leader of our Intelligence Community; and be
someone who would tell policymakers what they needed to
know, even if it wasn’t what they wanted to hear. Lastly, he
needed someone who knew how to get things done in a
bipartisan, professional manner.
While humbled by the nomination, I reflect upon my 46 years of
experience in the intelligence business and find confidence in
my ability to serve diligently and competently in the position of
Director of National Intelligence, should I be confirmed.
I have heard expressions of concern about my independence, as
a long-time denizen of the Department of Defense, and
whether I might be too beholden to it, and, thus, skew things in
favor of the military. I have been out of uniform for almost 15
years, over six of which were completely out of the
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government. The former Secretary of Defense ended my tenure
as Director of NGA three months earlier than originally planned,
because I was regarded as too "independent." I am a "truth to
power" guy, and try always to be straight up about anything I'm
asked.
Having said that, I feel my experience in the military – starting
with my two tours of duty during the Southeast Asia conflict –
provided a wealth of experience in intelligence which has been
expanded and honed by the things I've done since retiring from
military service in l995. Thus, I have been a practitioner in
virtually every aspect of intelligence.
Over the course of my career, I served as a Commander in
combat, as well as a Wing Commander and Commander of a
Scientific and Technical Intelligence Center. I have also served
as a Director of Intelligence (J-2) for three war-fighting
commands and led two intelligence agencies. I learned every
aspect of intelligence collection, analysis, operations, planning
and programming, and application and in all other disciplines —
HUMINT, GEOINT, MASINT, Foreign Material, Counterintelligence, and other more arcane forms of technical
intelligence. I have been widely exposed to the workings of the
entire U.S. Intelligence Community around the globe.
I have also worked as a contractor for four companies, with
intelligence as my primary focus. This gave me great insight
into the roles as well as the strengths and limits of contractors,
how the government looks from the outside, and what drives a
commercial entity as it competes for, wins, and fulfills contracts.
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I served on many government boards, commissions and panels
over my career. Specifically, I served as Vice Chairman of a
Congressionally-mandated Commission chaired by former
Governor of Virginia, Jim Gilmore, for almost three years.
Based on this experience I learned a great deal on how issues are
perceived at the State and local levels, and helped formulate
recommendations, which, in part, presaged the subsequent
formation of the Department of Homeland Security.
As the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, I helped
exercise civilian control over the military, served as Program
Executive for the Military Intelligence Program, and developed
and promulgated standards and policy across the entire range of
the intelligence, counter-intelligence, and security dimensions of
the Department of Defense.
Apart from all this functional experience, I have lived the
history of the Intelligence Community for that same time span. I
think the amalgam of this experience – the breadth, depth, and
scope – equips me to deal with the demands of the DNI – a
position which demands extensive knowledge of the entirety of
the US intelligence enterprise.
I think, too often, people assume that the Intelligence
Community is equally adept at divining both secrets (which are
theoretically knowable) and mysteries (which are generally
unknowable) . . . but we are not. Normally, the best that
Intelligence can do is to reduce uncertainty for decision-makers–
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whether in the White House, the Congress, the Embassy, or the
fox hole – but rarely can intelligence eliminate such uncertainty.
But in order to provide the best intelligence support to our
nation, our leaders and decision-makers, the DNI can and must
foster the collaboration and cooperation of the Intelligence
Community. Intelligence is a team effort. Given the complexity
and diversity of the Intelligence Community– we must view it as
an enterprise of complementary capabilities that must be
synchronized. To be specific, the DNI will need to serve the
President and work with all members of the community and the
Congress as well as with many others, to be successful in
fulfilling the President’s vision.
Madam Chairman, Mr. Vice Chairman, if confirmed, I pledge
not only to follow the law, but to go a step further and endeavor,
as best as I am able, to build upon and increase the trust between
Congress and DNI. That’s not to say we’ll always see things the
same way. And that’s not to say you won’t question us and hold
us accountable where appropriate – I expect nothing less. But
our objective ought to be the same: to give the Intelligence
Community all that it needs to succeed, consistent with our laws
and values. If confirmed, I believe I can do that. I have had
very positive discussions with CIA, FBI, and other leaders
across the Intelligence Community, and I am quite encouraged
by their commitment to making this team work should I be
confirmed.
Additionally, keeping this Committee ‘‘fully and currently’’
informed is not an option. It is the law, and it is our solemn
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obligation. I was a young Air Force officer at NSA in the
seventies, and watched the Church-Pike hearings, which led to,
among other things, the establishment of the intelligence
oversight committees in both Houses of Congress. I am a strong
believer in the need for an informed Congress. I say this not
only as an intelligence-career professional, but as a citizen.
I have interacted with the intelligence oversight committees
since the mid-eighties in several capacities. If confirmed, I
would seek to forge a close partnership with the oversight
committees.
Moreover, I would observe that the Congress will be hugely
influential in ensuring the DNI succeeds. The CongressionalDNI partnership is crucial in all respects, and this is one of the
most important -- keeping Congress fully and currently informed
of intelligence activities and receiving your feedback, support,
and oversight. Indeed, it is my conviction that, partly through
the Congress, the DNI has a great deal of authority already; the
challenge is how that authority is asserted. I believe my
experience in the community would serve me, and the position,
well.
Finally, the men and women of the Intelligence Community are
courageous, smart and patriotic; if confirmed, it would be my
honor to lead them in support of our nation’s security. Thank
you and I look forward to your questions.

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