William J. Burns
American diplomat
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| January 30 2024 | Published article 'Spycraft and Statecraft' in Foreign Affairs magazine, providing insights into diplomatic strategy and intelligence practices. |
| January 30 2024 | Published article 'Spycraft and Statecraft' in Foreign Affairs magazine, providing insights into diplomatic strategy and intelligence practices. |
| 2023 | The Wall Street Journal reported on Burns' previously undisclosed meetings with Jeffrey Epstein in 2014, revealing details from documents and calendars. |
| 2023 | The Wall Street Journal reported on Burns' previously undisclosed meetings with Jeffrey Epstein in 2014, revealing details from documents and calendars. |
| July 2023 | Elevated to a position in President Biden's cabinet, a largely symbolic action. |
| July 2023 | Elevated to a position in President Biden's cabinet, a largely symbolic action. |
| May 2023 | Made a secret visit to China to ease diplomatic tensions. |
| May 2023 | Made a secret visit to China to ease diplomatic tensions. |
| 2022 | Received the American Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award. |
| 2022 | Received the American Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award. |
| July 31 2022 | Oversaw the operation that killed terrorist leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. |
| July 31 2022 | Oversaw the operation that killed terrorist leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. |
| April 2022 | Traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet with the crown prince and discuss oil production and weapons purchases. |
| April 2022 | Traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet with the crown prince and discuss oil production and weapons purchases. |
| November 2021 | Traveled to Moscow to warn Nikolai Patrushev about potential Russian invasion of Ukraine. |
| November 2021 | Traveled to Moscow to warn Nikolai Patrushev about potential Russian invasion of Ukraine. |
| August 23 2021 | Held a secret meeting in Kabul with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar to discuss U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. |
| August 23 2021 | Held a secret meeting in Kabul with Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar to discuss U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. |
| March 23 2021 | Ceremonially sworn in as CIA director by Vice President Kamala Harris. |
| March 23 2021 | Ceremonially sworn in as CIA director by Vice President Kamala Harris. |
| March 19 2021 | Officially sworn in as CIA director. |
| March 19 2021 | Officially sworn in as CIA director. |
| March 18 2021 | Unanimously confirmed by voice vote in the Senate as CIA director. |
| March 18 2021 | Unanimously confirmed by voice vote in the Senate as CIA director. |
| January 11 2021 | Nominated by President Joe Biden to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. |
| January 11 2021 | Nominated by President Joe Biden to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. |
| 2019 | William J. Burns published his memoir 'The Back Channel: A Memoir of American Diplomacy and the Case for Its Renewal' through Random House, which was accompanied by an archive of nearly 100 declassified diplomatic cables. |
| 2019 | William J. Burns published his memoir 'The Back Channel: A Memoir of American Diplomacy and the Case for Its Renewal' through Random House, which was accompanied by an archive of nearly 100 declassified diplomatic cables. |
| 2015 | Received the American Academy of Diplomacy's Annenberg Award for Diplomatic Excellence. |
| 2015 | Received the American Academy of Diplomacy's Annenberg Award for Diplomatic Excellence. |
| 2014 | William J. Burns reportedly had three scheduled meetings with Jeffrey Epstein while serving as deputy secretary of state, at a time when Epstein had previously been convicted of procuring a minor for prostitution. |
| 2014 | Received multiple awards: Department of Defense Award for Distinguished Public Service, U.S. Intelligence Community Medallion, Central Intelligence Agency's Agency Seal Medal, Anti-Defamation League's Distinguished Statesman Award, and Middle East Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. |
| 2014 | Retires from the U.S. Foreign Service after a 32-year career. |
| 2014 | Becomes president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, serving in this role until 2021. |
| 2014 | William J. Burns reportedly had three scheduled meetings with Jeffrey Epstein while serving as deputy secretary of state, at a time when Epstein had previously been convicted of procuring a minor for prostitution. |
| 2014 | Received multiple awards: Department of Defense Award for Distinguished Public Service, U.S. Intelligence Community Medallion, Central Intelligence Agency's Agency Seal Medal, Anti-Defamation League's Distinguished Statesman Award, and Middle East Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. |
| 2014 | Becomes president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, serving in this role until 2021. |
| 2014 | Retires from the U.S. Foreign Service after a 32-year career. |
| 2013 | Named Foreign Policy's 'Diplomat of the Year'. |
| 2013 | Named Foreign Policy's 'Diplomat of the Year'. |
| June 2013 | Led secret bilateral channel with Iran that resulted in an interim nuclear agreement. |
| June 2013 | Led secret bilateral channel with Iran that resulted in an interim nuclear agreement. |
| 2012 | Became an honorary Fellow of St. John's College, Oxford. |
| 2012 | Became an honorary Fellow of St. John's College, Oxford. |
| 2011 | Served as Deputy Secretary of State until 2014. |
| 2011 | Served as Deputy Secretary of State until 2014. |
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