WASHINGTON, June 18 (UPI) -- The head of the U.S. National Counter-Terrorism Center has named a 33-year CIA veteran as the new principal deputy director at the agency.
NCTC Director Michael Leiter announced the appointment of John O'Connell as the new principal deputy director. O'Connell, who has spent a large portion of his career in the CIA's National Clandestine Service, has served at the NCTC since 2005, the NCTC reported.
"(John) O'Connell is exceptionally well qualified to help lead NCTC and brings outstanding credentials to the job," Leiter said in a statement.
"The center, and the entire counter-terrorism community, will be well served by his many decades of experience, and I am pleased that he has agreed to serve as my principal deputy."
Before coming to the NCTC, O'Connell served stints as the FBI's International Terrorism Operations Section deputy chief and also as the CIA's Counter-Terrorist Center chief.
