US President Barack Obama has nominated General James Clapper as the director of national intelligence, or DNI.
A retired Air Force general, 69 year-old Clapper is currently the Pentagon's intelligence undersecretary.
Created after the 9/11 intelligence failure, the DNI oversees and coordinates the activities of the 16 intelligence agencies, including the CIA.
The Vietnam War veteran will replace Admiral Dennis Blair, who resigned last month after coming under criticism for a run of security failures.
Making the announcement Saturday, Obama described Clapper as one 'of our most respected intelligence' officials, and noted that serving as the nation's top intelligence official was a tough job.
The nomination of Clapper, who would be the fourth man to hold the job in the last five years, is subject to ratification by the Senate, a process Obama said he hopes will go quickly.
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