Lora Shiao
Career U.S. intelligence officer Lora Shiao has been named acting director of the National Counterterrorism Center, making her the first woman to hold the post. In addition, Clare Linkins will serve as NCTC’s next executive director.
Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell “is excited and proud to promote Lora and Clare to these critical positions, where they will lead the nation’s efforts to counter terrorism,” the DNI’s office announced.
“Lora and Clare … are well-respected career intelligence officials, with deep analytic, operational and leadership experience serving in the Intelligence Community (IC) and are recognized for their focus and commitment to workforce issues, including recruitment, development, retention and morale,” Grenell added.
Shiao served as NCC’s deputy director for intelligence from 2016 to 2019. She also was the deputy director for terrorist identities from 2015 to 2016. As acting director, Shiao would also become the agency’s deputy director.
Shiao has more than two decades’ in the intelligence community, with much of her efforts focused on anti-terrorist work in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. She will likely serve as acting director until President Donald Trump’s nominee for the job, Pentagon special operations and counterterrorism official Christopher Miller, is confirmed.
