The top U.S. counterterrorism official Christy Abizaid has stepped down as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) after serving in the role for three years.
Abizaid served as the 8th director of the NCTC since 2021 and is the first woman to hold the role.
She will be replaced by Brett Holmgren, the current director of the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), who will serve as the NCTC acting director.
“Christy led the Center to address an evolving counterterrorism threat environment while also preparing the NCTC workforce for future challenges,” said Avril D. Haines, Director of National Intelligence. “I am incredibly grateful for Christy’s extraordinary counsel and knowledge, as well as for her kindness, courage, and dedication to NCTC and our nation’s security.”
Holmgren has experience at the Defense Intelligence Agency, CIA and White House National Security Council where he served as the director of counterterrorism during the Obama administration.
Lisa Kenna, the former U.S. Ambassador to Peru, will serve as acting director of the INR as Holmgren moves into his new role.
Holmgren also recently served as Deputy for Nominations on the Biden-Harris Transition Team and Vice President for Technology Risk Management at Capital One Financial.
“We are so fortunate to have a distinguished member of the IC leadership team and another truly exceptional counterterrorism leader join us at ODNI,” said Haines about Holmgren.
Holmgren received a B.A. in political science and journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a M.A. in global security studies from Johns Hopkins University.
