John Ratcliffe is an American attorney and politician who served as Director of National Intelligence from 2020 to 2021 and has been Director of the Central Intelligence Agency since January 2025.
While DNI he publicly described extensive classified UAP data and later reiterated that the government holds more information on the topic than it has released.
- Born October 20, 1965, in Mount Prospect, Illinois; BA University of Notre Dame 1986; JD Southern Methodist University 1989.
- U.S. Representative for Texas's 4th congressional district, 2015–2020.
- Director of National Intelligence, May 2020–January 2021.
- In March 2021 Fox News interview stated government had far more UAP sightings than released, including impossible maneuvers detected by multiple sensors.
- Confirmed as CIA Director by Senate 74-25 vote on January 23, 2025.
- United StatesBorn and served in public office
- Central Intelligence AgencyDirector, 2025–present
- Office of the Director of National IntelligenceDirector, 2020–2021
- United States House of RepresentativesRepresentative, Texas 4th District, 2015–2020
- Republican PartyMember
- University of Notre DameBA 1986
- Southern Methodist UniversityJD 1989
Background
John Lee Ratcliffe was born on October 20, 1965, in Mount Prospect, Illinois, the youngest of six children to two teachers. He graduated from Carbondale Community High School in 1983. Ratcliffe earned a Bachelor of Arts in government and international studies from the University of Notre Dame in 1986. He received his Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1989.
After law school Ratcliffe entered private legal practice in Texas, working as an attorney for fifteen years. In 2004 he was elected mayor of Heath, Texas, serving two terms until 2012. During this period he also served as acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas from May 2007 to April 2008.
Ratcliffe won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014 as a Republican representing Texas's 4th congressional district. He took office on January 3, 2015, and served until resigning on May 22, 2020, to become Director of National Intelligence. In Congress he sat on the House Intelligence Committee.
President Donald Trump nominated Ratcliffe to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The Senate confirmed him on May 21, 2020. He served from May 26, 2020, until January 20, 2021, overseeing the U.S. Intelligence Community during the final months of the first Trump administration.
As DNI Ratcliffe directed the creation of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force and pushed for greater public transparency on UAP reports. He was the first senior official to publicly acknowledge the task force through the Senate Intelligence Committee in 2020.
In a March 20, 2021, interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, Ratcliffe stated there were far more UAP sightings than publicly released. He described objects observed by Navy and Air Force pilots or captured by satellite imagery that performed maneuvers difficult to explain with known technology, including speeds exceeding the sound barrier without sonic booms and detections by multiple sensors.
Ratcliffe returned to private life after leaving office. In subsequent 2023 interviews he reiterated that the government possesses more UAP information than it has shared and called for additional transparency short of full disclosure for national security reasons.
Following the 2024 election President Trump nominated Ratcliffe to serve as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The Senate confirmed him on January 23, 2025, by a 74-25 vote. Ratcliffe assumed the role the same day, becoming the first person to head both the ODNI and the CIA.
Where They Are Now
As of October 25, 2026, John Ratcliffe serves as the ninth Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, a position he has held since January 23, 2025.
He continues to oversee the CIA's operations and intelligence activities while maintaining a public profile on national security matters.
Last updated 25 October 2026