William J. Burns, Bio, Age, CIA assassinations, Career, Quick Facts
3 min readWilliam J. Burns, Biography
William Burns is the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The American diplomat once served as US deputy secretary of state from 2011 to 2014, when he retired from the US foreign service. He became the president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace from 2014 to 2021. Joe Biden, the president of the United States, nominated Burns in January 2021 to become CIA director. The Senate unanimously confirmed him by voice vote on March 18, 2021, and he was sworn in on March 19. Vice President Kamala Harris ceremonially swore him in on March 23. Burns was elevated to a position in the cabinet by the president in July 2023, an action that was considered symbolic.
William Burns, Age and Birthday
Born on April 11, 1956, at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, Burns is the son of Peggy Cassady and William F. Burns.
William Burns, Education
He went to Trinity High School in Camp Hil, Pennsylvania, graduated valedictorian in 1973, and then proceeded to study history at La Salle University. After graduating with honors in 1978, Burns got a Marshall Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford. From St. John’s College, Oxford, he earned M.Phil. and D.Phil. degrees in international relations.
READ ALSO: Emir Raisi, Iranian President, Helicopter Crash, Quick Facts
William Burns, Career
William was the ambassador to Jordan from 1998 to 2001, the Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs from 2001 to 2005, the ambassador to Russia from 2005 to 2008, and the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 2008 to 2011. The American diplomat once served as US deputy secretary of state from 2011 to 2014, when he retired from the US foreign service. He became the president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace from 2014 to 2021. Joe Biden, the president of the United States, nominated Burns in January 2021 to become CIA director.
William Burns, Wife and Children
Married to Lisa Carty, Burns has two daughters. His lovely wife, Carty, is a former diplomat and currently a UN OCHA senior official.
Wiliam Burns, Wiki/Quick Facts
Full name: William Joseph Burns
Birthday: April 4, 1956 (age 68)
Birthplace: Fort Bragg, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party: Independent
Spouse: Lisa Carty
Children: 2
Education: La Salle University (BA)
St John’s College, Oxford (MPhil, DPhil)
Net worth: $3million
He is fluent in English, French, Russian and Arabic.
William Burns, Awards
Commandeur, Legion of Honor (France)
Knight Commander, Order of Merit (Germany)
Grand Cordon, Order of the Rising Sun (Japan)
Marshall Medal (UK)
Commendatore, Order of Merit (Italy)
First Order, Al Kawkab Medal (Jordan)
Commander with star, Royal Order of St Olav (Norway)
William Burns, CIA Assassinations
Burns oversaw the operation that killed Ayan al-Zawahiri, a terrorist leader, on July 31, 2022. On May 19, 2024, the helicopter carrying Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, crashed, sparking speculations of CIA involvement in the assassination, including that of Fidel Castro. The plot for the assassination of Julian Assange, whom the CIA said was not a journalist, also sparked conversations. Rumors have it that the CIA may have united with Mossad to assassinate the Butcher of Tehran. The CIA is also speculated to be involved in Congo, attempting to overthrow the government.
William Burns, Trump Campaigns
The CIA and MI6 were illegally spying on Trump’s campaign. In May 2024, the CIA failed to produce documents relating to Obama’s spying on Trump’s campaign for Congress. The CIA is also said to pay the people of Georgia to protest daily. All these are only speculations, though. The CIA has always been thought to be behind every evil.
William Burns, Net Worth
The CIA director earns an annual salary of $212,100 and has a net worth of about $ 3 million.