| Kingman Douglass(1) | 2 March 1946--11 July 1946 |
| Brig. Gen. Edwin K. Wright, USA | 20 January 1947--9 March 1949 |
| The Honorable William H. Jackson | 7 October 1950--3 August 1951 |
| The Honorable Allen W. Dulles | 23 August 1951--26 February 1953 |
| Gen. Charles P. Cabell, USAF | 23 April 1953--31 January 1962 |
| Lt. Gen. Marshall S. Carter, USA | 3 April 1962--28 April 1965 |
| The Honorable Richard M. Helms | 28 April 1965--30 June 1966 |
| Vice Adm. Rufus L. Taylor, USN | 13 October 1966--1 February 1969 |
| Lt. Gen. Robert E. Cushman, Jr., USMC | 7 May 1969--31 December 1971 |
| Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters, USA(2) | 2 May 1972--7 July 1976 |
| The Honorable E. Henry Knoche(3) | 7 July 1976--1 August 1977 |
| John F. Blake(4) | 1 August 1977--10 February 1978 |
| The Honorable Frank C. Carlucci | 10 February 1978--5 February 1981 |
| Adm. Bobby R. Inman, USN | 12 February 1981--10 June 1982 |
| The Honorable John N. McMahon | 10 June 1982--29 March 1986 |
| The Honorable Robert M. Gates(5) | 18 April 1986--20 March 1989 |
| The Honorable Richard J. Kerr(6) | 20 March 1989--2 March 1992 |
| Adm. William O. Studeman, USN(7) | 9 April 1992--3 July 1995 |
| The Honorable George J. Tenet(8) | 3 July 1995--11 July 1997 |
| Gen. John A. Gordon, USAF | 31 October 1997--28 June 2000 |
| John E. McLaughlin | 28 June 2000-- |
1. Mr. Douglas served as Acting DDCI 2 March 1946--11 July 1946.
2. GEN Walters served as Acting DCI 2 July 1973--4 September 1973.
3. Mr. Knoche served as Acting DCI 20 January 1977--9 March 1977.
4. Mr. Blake served as Acting DDCI 1 August 1977--10 February 1978.
5. Mr. Gates served as Acting DCI 18 December 1986--26 May 1987.
6. Mr. Kerr became Acting DCI 1 September 1991--6 November 1991.
7. Admiral Studeman served as Acting DCI 21 January 1993--5 February 1993 and 11 January 1995--9 May 1995.
8.
Mr. Tenet served as Acting DCI 16 December 1996--11 July 1997.