William Joseph Burns (born April 4, 1956) is an American diplomat, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Previously, he was President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of State from 2011 to 2014. Burns served as ambassador to Jordan from 1998 to 2001, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs from 2001 to 2005, ambassador to Russia from 2005 to 2008 and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 2008 to 2011.
