| Rear Adm. Sidney W. Souers, USNR* | 23 January 1946--10 June 1946 |
| Lt. Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, USA* | 10 June 1946--1 May 1947 |
| Rear Adm. Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter, USN** | 1 May 1947--7 October 1950 |
| Gen. Walter Bedell Smith, USA | 7 October 1950--9 February 1953 |
| The Honorable Allen W. Dulles(1) | 26 February 1953--29 November 1961 |
| The Honorable John A. McCone | 29 November 1961--28 April 1965 |
| Vice Adm. William F. Raborn, Jr., USN (Ret.) | 28 April 1965--30 June 1966 |
| The Honorable Richard M. Helms | 30 June 1966--2 February 1973 |
| The Honorable James R. Schlesinger | 2 February 1973--2 July 1973 |
| The Honorable William E. Colby | 4 September 1973--30 January 1976 |
| The Honorable George H. W. Bush | 30 January 1976--20 January 1977 |
| Adm. Stansfield Turner, USN (Ret.)(2) | 9 March 1977--20 January 1981 |
| The Honorable William J. Casey | 28 January 1981--29 January 1987 |
| The Honorable William H. Webster | 26 May 1987--31 August 1991 |
| The Honorable Robert M. Gates | 6 November 1991--20 January 1993 |
| The Honorable R. James Woolsey | 5 February 1993--10 January 1995 |
| The Honorable John M. Deutch | 10 May 1995 --15 December 1996 |
| The Honorable George J. Tenet | 11 July 1997-- |
1. Mr. Dulles served as Acting DCI 9-26 February.
2. Admiral Turner retired from the Navy on 31 December 1978 while serving as DCI.
* Before the National Security Act
of 26 July 1947 established the Central Intelligence Agency on 18 September
1947, the Director of Central Intelligence Served as a member of the National
Intelligence Authority and head of the Central Intelligence Group by authority
of a Presidential Directive of 22 January 1946.
** The National Security Act of 26 July 1947 established the Central Intelligence
Agency, which replaced the Central Intelligence Group on 18 September 1947.