Friday, November 9, 2012

Petraeus stand-in has been through this before



CNN
By Pam Benson

Once again, Michael Morell is being called on to fill-in as acting director of the CIA. It was only last year during the two month gap from the time Leon Panetta left the CIA until Petraeus took over the helm that Deputy Director Morell oversaw the Agency.




The career intelligence officer joined the CIA in 1980. Much of his early career focused on Asian issues. Morell has had a steady climb up the career ladder. He served as then CIA Director George Tenet's executive assistant and presided over the daily intelligence briefing for President George W. Bush. After a three year overseas assignment in the mid 2000's, he returned to headquarters where he became the associate deputy director responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Agency.

After spending two years as the Director of Intelligence, overseeing the work of the analysts, he was appointed to his current position as Deputy Director in May 2010.
In his statement on the resignation of Director Petraeus, President Barack Obama expressed the "utmost confidence" in Morell continuing the work of the CIA. "I have the utmost confidence in Acting Director Michael Morell and the men and women of the CIA who work every day to keep our nation safe."



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