President-elect Barack Obama plans to name retired Navy Adm. Dennis Blair to be director of national intelligence, said a former intelligence official in contact with the transition team.
The announcement of Blair’s nomination to become the nation’s top spy official could come as early as today, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
If confirmed by the Senate, Blair, 61, would oversee the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, which have a combined budget of at least $47.5 billion.
Blair is a 34-year Navy veteran. As head of U.S. Pacific Command after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Blair oversaw military operations across more than 100 million square miles. He was the first person to serve as associate director of the Central Intelligence Agency for military support.
