Shannon Ratliff Corless
Nominee to be the Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis
U.S. Treasury Department
U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
November 30, 2021
Chairman, Vice Chairman, and distinguished members of the Committee, it is an honor to sit
before you today as you consider my nomination for the role of Assistant Secretary for
Intelligence and Analysis at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. I am deeply grateful to
President Biden, Vice President Harris, Secretary Yellen, and Deputy Secretary Adeyemo for
their confidence in me, and to Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines for her support and
encouragement in my decision to accept this nomination.
I want to take a moment to recognize several important individuals in my life, without whom
today would not be possible.
First and foremost, my husband Josh. He is the love of my life, my best friend, and the most
amazing father to our two children, Declan and Margot, who are the lights of our lives.
I would also like to recognize my mother and father, Linda and Bill Ratliff, and my brother Chet.
Our parents were the ultimate role models. They instilled in us from a young age, a sense of
confidence that we are capable of achieving our goals and realizing our dreams. My father
passed away nearly 10 years ago, and while it saddens me enormously that he’s not around to
savor this moment, I know he is with me every step of the way.
I would like to recognize my in-laws, Joseph and Sylvia Corless, who have truly become like a
second set of parents to me. Finally, I would also like to recognize my late grandmother, Mary
Virginia Moser Horgan, who passed away on Christmas Night of 2020.
There are so many more people—family, friends, and colleagues—to whom I owe a debt of
gratitude for their love and support.
My interest in service to my country came at an early age. I grew up in Tampa, Florida, near
MacDill Air Force Base. I vividly recall watching my father—a television anchor at WFLATV—report daily on Operation Desert Storm. The conflict, and my father’s role in reporting it,
led to many conversations at home about the history of service in my family. This included my
great-grandfather’s service in World War I, both grandfathers’ service during World War II and
the Korean War, and my great uncle, Colonel Robert Mountel, who spent over 30 years in the
Army. My uncle served in a variety of Special Forces roles and posts, including as Commander
of the 5th Special Forces Group. He was my inspiration to pursue a career in national security,
and he readily indulged and encouraged my growing interest as a child and young adult.

This passion for national security led me to work first with the Office of Naval Intelligence, and
then at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence—or ODNI—where I have overseen the
provision of broad intelligence support to Treasury, including with respect to Treasury’s role as
Chair of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. I am currently responsible
for leading the Intelligence Community’s Economic Security and Financial Intelligence mission.
In short, my team is responsible for ensuring that the IC is postured to support policy customers
on issues such as: CFIUS reviews, export controls, telecommunications, sanctions
implementation, and the rise of digital assets.
The position I am being considered for today, the Assistant Secretary for Treasury’s Office of
Intelligence & Analysis—or OIA—is perhaps one of the most unique roles in the IC. The
Department of the Treasury is the only finance ministry in the world to have its own intelligence
component. Though OIA may have been borne out of 9/11 and designed to play a key role in the
U.S. Government’s counter terrorism efforts, it is increasingly pivotal to our government’s
efforts to compete with China, and to shore up U.S. economic security and that of our allies.
Leading an organization with such a unique and critical responsibility is an opportunity I am
eager to take on and one that I am prepared to lead drawing upon my decades of service and
leadership in the IC.
If confirmed to the role of Assistant Secretary, I will strive to ensure OIA has the human capital
and technology resources it needs to successfully execute its mission. “Intelligence integration”
has been a central pillar and guiding principle of my career at ODNI. If confirmed, I intend to
leverage that experience and ensure that OIA continues to lead when appropriate and partners
with IC colleagues always.
My entire career has been in the IC, where I am privileged to work with extraordinarily
committed and talented colleagues. I never imagined I would have the opportunity to be
considered for this role, but I am deeply honored to be nominated and look forward to your
questions.