Retired Vice Adm. Mike McConnell became the second director of national intelligence yesterday at Bolling AFB, D.C. Attending the swearing in ceremony, President George Bush characterized the responsibilities of the DNI as “enormous challenges,” saying McConnell has the “experience and the character and the talent to meet them” as well as “a reputation in Washington for personal integrity and effective leadership.” Bush nominated McConnell last month, after the first DNI, John Negroponte announced he would move to the State Department. Among the many tasks Bush has set for McConnell are to enhance the integration of the Intelligence Community, to improve information sharing across the IC and other agencies, to restore agility and excellence to IC acquisition efforts.
A new report from the Government Accountability Office calls for the Pentagon’s Chief Technology Officer to have budget certification authority over the military services’ research and development accounts—a move the services say would add a burdensome and unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.
