FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ODNI News Release No. 17-25
July 22, 2025
DNI Gabbard Welcomes Aaron Lukas as Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard welcomes Aaron Lukas as Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (PDDNI) following his confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
"With over twenty years of serving our country in the Intelligence Community, I’m confident in the experience and skills Aaron brings to our leadership team at ODNI and the critical mission we are focused on,” said DNI Gabbard. "His experience spans nearly every aspect of intelligence work, from his service as an analyst and covert operations officer in the CIA, to his expertise in national security policy during the first Trump administration and serving as Chief of Staff to a former Director of National Intelligence. Aaron understands firsthand the work of intelligence collectors and analysts because he has done it himself. I'm confident he will help us bring much needed transformational change, transparency, accountability, and mission focus to the IC."
"It’s an honor to be confirmed and to have the trust of President Trump and Director Gabbard to serve as the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence," said PDDNI Lukas. "As someone who has spent most of my career serving on the front lines of intelligence, I understand firsthand our challenges as a community and the threats we face abroad. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve my country in this role and to help implement much-needed changes that will better enable our officers to focus on their critical missions."
PDDNI Lukas spent more than 20 years serving in the CIA as an analyst and a clandestine operations officer deployed to regions around the world. During the first Trump administration, Lukas served as chief of staff at ODNI. He was also the Deputy Senior Director for Europe and Russia at the National Security Council. Prior to his work in the IC, Lukas worked at the Office of the United States Trade Representative, as well as at the Cato Institute, where he met his wife, with whom he is raising five children. Lukas is an Arkansas native and a proud graduate of Texas A&M and The George Washington University.
###