George Tenet

George John Tenet is an American intelligence official and academic. Born on January 5, 1953, he served as the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) for the United States Central Intelligence Agency. Tenet held this position from July 1997 to July 2004, making him one of the agency's longest-serving directors. He also served as a Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. Tenet played a crucial role in overseeing intelligence on weapons of mass destruction prior to the Iraq War. However, a 2005 Inspector General's report held him responsible for the intelligence community's failure to develop a plan against al Qaeda before 9/11. Tenet has faced criticism for authorizing the CIA's use of harsh and ineffective torture techniques during his tenure.