Statement of Brett Holmgren
Nominee for Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
May 18, 2021
Chairman Warner, Vice Chairman Rubio, and Members of the Committee, it is an honor to
appear before you today as the nominee to be Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of
Intelligence and Research. I am deeply grateful to President Biden and Secretary Blinken for the
confidence they have placed in me, and to Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, for
supporting my nomination. I also want to thank Senator Klobuchar for her kind words.
I would not be here if it were not for the love and support of my family: my wife, Dana, our son
Teddy, my parents, Michael and Mary, and my siblings Stacie, Krista and Ryan. Each of them
has inspired me to live my life with a sense of purpose, love, and humility.
Like many Americans of my generation, the tragic events of 9/11 were a turning point in my life.
I left my home state of Minnesota nearly 18 years ago to pursue a career in public service to
defend the freedoms, values, and liberties we all cherish. I came to Washington with a sense of
optimism and a deep and abiding belief in the ideals of this country – that America is a force for
good in the world, and that all men and women are created equal with the right to life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.
Those ideals derive from my upbringing in Minnesota, where I was surrounded by family who
believed deeply in the role of public service. Both of my grandfathers were World War II
veterans. My parents, both of whom were public school teachers for 40 years, instilled in my
siblings and me the importance of service. I still share the optimism and commitment to public
service that I brought with me to Washington nearly two decades ago.
While I may be a new face to the Committee, I have a long track record of working in and with
the Intelligence Community. As an analyst, first at the Defense Intelligence Agency and later at
Central Intelligence Agency, I authored all-source intelligence products to inform policy
decisions. Through deployments overseas, including in warzones, I have seen firsthand the key
role that intelligence plays in shaping national security and the tremendous sacrifices of our
diplomats, intelligence officers, and warfighters.
Throughout my career, I have also served in policy roles at the Pentagon and on the National
Security Council staff at the White House. These experiences gave me a richer understanding of
the vital role and the limitations of intelligence in shaping policy. Most importantly, I gained a
greater appreciation for the importance of analytic objectivity and the need for the Intelligence
Community to tell the policymaker what they need to know, not what they want to hear.
I have been nominated for this position at a time when the United States and its allies are facing
a diverse, interconnected array of threats against the backdrop of a global pandemic that is
straining governments and societies, fueling unrest, and accelerating global competition. From
China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, to terrorism, cyber, climate change, and evolving

technologies, these threats pose new challenges and opportunities for the Intelligence
Community.
INR plays a unique role in addressing these challenges. As the oldest civilian intelligence agency
in the United States, the Bureau has a long and proud history of providing policymakers valuable
insights into America’s most pressing national security issues, while empowering our diplomats
with the information and analysis to advance US foreign policy.
If confirmed, I look forward to leading this remarkable institution, serving as the principal
intelligence advisor to the Secretary of State and the head of one of the Nation’s 18 intelligence
agencies. INR’s responsibility to provide timely, objective, all-source analysis and to assure that
intelligence and sensitive law enforcement activities are consistent with, and supportive of, our
foreign policy objectives is more critical than ever.
If confirmed, four interrelated imperatives will shape my approach to leading INR. First, I will
ensure that our capabilities and resources are aligned and strategically prioritized to address the
most pressing challenges and opportunities, to include China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, as
well as global health, cyber, climate change and how to capitalize on the revolution in opensource intelligence.
Second, I will prioritize investments in INR’s greatest asset – its people. We must continue to
attract, train, and retain top talent while placing greater emphasis on diversity recruitment.
Third, I will focus on upgrading INR’s technology infrastructure to empower our analysts with
the tools they need to improve the delivery of our products and support our customers, especially
our diplomats overseas.
Finally, I will insist on strong cybersecurity practices throughout INR to safeguard the
confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our data, networks, and systems.
In closing, I want to recognize the important role that Congressional oversight plays in ensuring
that US intelligence activities are lawful, ethical, and consistent with our values. If confirmed, I
look forward to partnering with this Committee as we confront the many challenges ahead.
Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.