The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) leads the United States efforts to analyze, integrate and share counterterrorism intelligence, including counternarcotics related to intelligence, to prevent and respond to terrorist threats at home and abroad.
NCTC is working around the clock to provide vetting support and watchlisting for potential threat actors, produce strategic and tactical analysis to support law enforcement and agency partners, and assist the National Security Council with strategic operational planning and intel mission management.
Our Mission
Lead the nation’s effort to protect the United States from terrorism by integrating, analyzing, and sharing information to drive whole-of-government action and achieve our national counterterrorism objectives.
Our Vision
Be the nation’s indispensable source of counterterrorism expertise in a constantly evolving threat environment by leading a unified, agile, and resilient counterterrorism enterprise.
In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, the President and Congress reformed our nation’s intelligence enterprise, with a specific focus on intelligence related to terrorism. Under Executive Order 13354, and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, the National Counterterrorism Center was created and given the responsibility of not only analyzing, integrating, and sharing intelligence pertaining to terrorism, but also for strategic operational planning in direct support to the President and policymakers. The National Counterterrorism Center began operations in 2005, under the leadership of the Director of National Intelligence.
In 2025, after President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14157, certain cartels and transnational gangs were designated as foreign terrorist organizations. As a result, NCTC expanded its counterterrorism activities to include these groups, a recognition that they pose a top terrorism threat to the American people.
Leadership
Joseph Weirsky
Acting Director of NCTC
Joe Weirsky serves as the Acting Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). He brings nearly three decades of operational and intelligence experience from the U.S. Marine Corps and the Intelligence Community.
Brendan Ryan
Executive Director of NCTC
Brendan Ryan serves as the Executive Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). In this role, he ensures the effective execution of national counterterrorism priorities by aligning personnel, resources, and mission activities across the Center, enabling the Director to focus on strategy, policy, and senior-level engagement.
