National Counterterrorism Center


The National Counterterrorism Center is a United States government organization responsible for national and international counterterrorism efforts. It is based at Liberty Crossing in McLean, Virginia. The NCTC advises the United States on terrorism.
Part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the center brings together specialists from other federal agencies, including the CIA, the FBI, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security.

History

The idea of a center to merge intelligence on terror threats was proposed by the 9/11 Commission following the completion of its investigation into the September 11 attacks, the deadliest terrorist attack in world history. Plans to create such a center were announced by President George W. Bush in his January 2003 State of the Union address. On May 1, 2003, Executive Order 13354 established the Terrorist Threat Integration Center.
In 2004, the center was renamed the NCTC and placed under the director of national intelligence by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act.
After the Christmas 2009 terrorist attempt on Northwest Airlines Flight 253, the NCTC was tasked with creating a process to "thoroughly and exhaustively" prioritize terrorism threat threads; identify follow-up action by intelligence, law enforcement, and homeland security; and enhance the "Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment" database, to add names to watchlists.
In 2012, United States attorney general Eric Holder granted the NCTC the authority to collect, store, and analyze extensive data collections on U.S. citizens compiled from governmental and non-governmental sources for suspicious behavior through pattern analysis and to share the databases with foreign states. The effort has drawn controversy for its pre-crime effort, which has been likened to the Information Awareness Office and its proposed mass surveillance.
In August 2019, The Daily Beast reported that the NCTC had begun to work on counterintelligence to combat domestic terrorism.

Activities

The center analyzes terrorism intelligence including potential domestic threat intelligence; monitors communications internationally and domestically for potential threats; generates actionable information to potentially prevent criminal acts domestically; stores terrorism information; supports U.S. counterterrorism activities using information technology ; and plans counter-terrorism activities as directed by the president of the United States, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council.
It provides terrorism information to the intelligence community; makes detailed lists of terrorists, terrorist groups, and worldwide terrorist incidents; supports the response to terrorist incidents in the United States and worldwide; and writes assessments and briefings for policymakers.
The NCTC has access to various databases, including those from the NSA and the CIA, and is in charge of the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment database. It also operates the publicly accessible Worldwide Incidents Tracking System database.
The NCTC's Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment database contains more than 1.2 million identities of people who are known to be terrorists, suspected of it, or linked to people who are.

Leaders

Directors

Source:
ImageDirectorTerm startTerm endAppointed by
John O. BrennanAugust 27, 2004August 1, 2005George W. Bush
1John Scott ReddAugust 1, 2005November 10, 2007George W. Bush
Michael E. LeiterNovember 10, 2007June 12, 2008George W. Bush
2Michael E. LeiterJune 12, 2008July 8, 2011George W. Bush
3Matthew G. OlsenAugust 16, 2011July 9, 2014Barack Obama
4Nicholas RasmussenDecember 18, 2014December 24, 2017Barack Obama
Russell TraversDecember 24, 2017December 27, 2018Donald Trump
5Joseph MaguireDecember 27, 2018August 15, 2019Donald Trump
Russell TraversAugust 16, 2019March 18, 2020Donald Trump
Lora ShiaoApril 3, 2020August 10, 2020Donald Trump
6Christopher C. MillerAugust 10, 2020November 9, 2020Donald Trump
-Steve VanechNovember 10, 2020June 29, 2021Donald Trump
7Christine AbizaidJune 29, 2021July 5, 2024Joe Biden
Brett M. HolmgrenJuly 5, 2024January 20, 2025Joe Biden
-Don HolsteadJanuary 20, 2025May 9, 2025Donald Trump
8Joe KentJuly 31, 2025presentDonald Trump

Deputy directors

  • Arthur M. Cummings
  • Kevin R. Brock
  • Michael E. Leiter
  • Geoff O'Connell
  • Andrew Liepman
  • Nicholas J. Rasmussen
  • L. Joseph Camilleri
  • John J. Mulligan
  • Lora Shiao
  • Steve Vanech
  • Don Holstead
  • Kelton Jago