James Clapper is an American veteran who served in the United States Air Force as a lieutenant general. Clapper was also the Director of National Intelligence under the Obama administration.
The Early Life of James Clapper
James Robert Clapper Jr. was born on March 14, 1941, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Clapper’s father served in the US army and was a colonel by his retirement. James spent his teenage years in West Germany where he attended Nurnberg American High School. James Clapper went on to attend the University of Maryland for his undergraduate studies; Clapper majored in political science. Clapper received a Master of Science degree in political science from Texas’s St. Mary’s University.
The Career of James Clapper
James Clapper enlisted himself in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, serving as a rifleman and indulging himself with the Platoon Leader Training’s junior Course. Clapper left the seas for the high roads of US Air Force. He was later commissioned as an Air Force second lieutenant. Clapper went on to command a signals intelligence wing at the Fort George G. Meade and Air Force Technical Applications Center in Florida. Clapper also served as Chief of Air Force Intelligence during the Persian Gulf War.
During the George W. Bush administration, James Clapper was appointed as the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Clapper oversaw the process of transforming the National Military Intelligence Center into the National Military Joint Intelligence Center during his tenure. James was also instrumental in launching an initiative to reorganize intelligence analysis by specialists in enemy weapons. The initiative hoped to eliminate the practice of such analysis by specialists in countries and regions.
James Clapper as Director of National Intelligence
In 2010, after the suggestion of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, then-President Barrack Obama nominated James Clapper to replace Dennis C. Blair as the Director of National Intelligence. The Senate unanimously passed his nomination on August 5, 2010. Jack Clapper pledged to advance the DNI’s authorities and provide necessary oversight over CIA’s use of drones in Pakistan during his testimony. Clapper also introduced a new position called Deputy Director of National Intelligence during his directorship at the DNI. He chose Robert Cardillo to tap in the new post.
In 2013, James Clapper lied in the Congress, while still being under oath, when asked about NSA surveilling the general American public. The deeds of NSA were leaked by Edward Snowden in documents that showed that NSA had collected phone records from over 120 million Verizon subscribers. He retired from the office following the end of President Obama’s tenure at the White House.
During an August 2017 interview, Clapper stated that it was “pretty damn scary” to provide access to the nuclear codes to President Donald Trump. Clapper has also stated that Trump is unfit to be in the office. However, he has revealed that there was no evidence of collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia during his investigation.
Personal Life & Net Worth
Clapper is married to Sue Clapper since 1965. The couple has a daughter together named Jennifer. He has an estimated net worth of around $11 million.
Facts about James Clapper
- James Clapper worked in the private sector before joining the George W Bush administration.
- He has worked under both the Bush administration.
