The CIA has hired a senior secret case official who currently serves as the station chief in the Middle East and conducts covert operations around the world after the previous nominee was withdrawn.
According to several people familiar with the decision, CIA Director John Ratcliffe chose an intelligence operator who is responsible for key stations in the Middle East as deputy director of operations.
The Financial Times withheld certain details about the nominee because he was undercover. Those familiar with the choice say nominees are very popular among popular case officials.
Deputy Director of Operations (DDO) is one of the most important positions of the CIA as the person runs the agency's secret program around the world and oversees spy recruitment in China, Russia and elsewhere. The position is expected to become stronger as Ratcliffe intensifies the agency's focus on espionage.
Ratcliffe said at a Senate confirmation hearing that the CIA will “came intelligence “no matter how dark or difficult it is, especially human intelligence in every corner of the world.”
In one example, the CIA recently released a Chinese video as part of an unprecedented online effort to recruit spies in China.
"Ratcliffe's laser focuses on foreign intelligence gathering missions," said one person familiar with his views.
A new DDO was chosen after Ratcliffe asked Veterans Case Officer Ralph Goff to retire to the position. But his name later quits the debate. Some say he was withdrawn because the White House opposed his pro-Ukrainian activities in retirement, but one stressed that it had nothing to do with Ukraine.
The appointment of a new DDO is just one of many changes in the U.S. intelligence community under President Donald Trump. Earlier this year, Trump fired General Timothy Haugh, who heads the NSA, who runs the U.S. Cyber Command.
Tulsi Gabbard, director of the National Intelligence Department, recently appointed Michael Collins as director of the National Intelligence Commission, which conducted intelligence assessments on key issues based on information from the entire U.S. intelligence community.
Critics of Collins and his deputy said that because of their role in producing a report that undermined the White House’s role in sending so-called Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador. Gabbard's office rejected the suggestion, saying the two officials were removed from office to politicize intelligence.
People familiar with this situation say the appointment of the new DDO has nothing to do with the recent controversial changes in the intelligence community. They say new CIA directors often choose new operations heads to ensure that given the sensitivity of the job, it is someone they can trust.
Some speculate that Ratcliffe will also replace the current deputy director of analysis. But a familiar person said he intended to keep the secret. One of the reasons to keep the current head of analysis is that he has a "good relationship" with the upcoming DDO, the person said.
The CIA declined to comment.