The Coordinator for Counterterrorism heads the Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism, which coordinates U.S. government efforts to fight terrorism.[1] As the head of the counterterrorism bureau, the coordinator for counterterrorism has the rank of both ambassador-at-large and assistant secretary.[2][3]
| United States Coordinator for Counterterrorism | |
|---|---|
Seal of the United States Department of State
| |
Elizabeth H. Richard since December 29, 2023 | |
| Nominator | President of the United States |
| Inaugural holder | L. Douglas Heck |
| Formation | 1976 |
| Website | Official website |
As of December 29, 2023[update], the coordinator is Elizabeth H. Richard.[4]
The role of Coordinator for Combating Terrorism has often rotated throughout a presidential administration, only presidents Gerald Ford and Donald Trump have maintained a single coordinator throughout their term of office.
| # | Image | Name | Assumed office | Left office | President served under |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L. Douglas Heck | August 29, 1976 | June 6, 1977 | Gerald Ford | |
| 2 | Heyward Isham | October 26, 1977 | August 1, 1978 | Jimmy Carter | |
| 3 | 
|
Anthony C. E. Quainton | August 16, 1978 | August 1, 1981 | |
| 4 | 
|
Robert M. Sayre | May 11, 1982 | September 10, 1984 | Ronald Reagan |
| 5 | 
|
Robert B. Oakley | September 10, 1984 | October 12, 1986 | |
| 6 | 
|
L. Paul Bremer | October 16, 1986 | May 25, 1989 | |
| 7 | 
|
Morris D. Busby | May 1, 1989 | July 24, 1991 | George H. W. Bush |
| 8 | 
|
Peter Burleigh | November 22, 1991 | November 23, 1992 | |
| - | 
|
Thomas E. McNamara (acting) | November 23, 1992 | January 20, 1993 | |
| 9 | 
|
Philip C. Wilcox Jr. | March 24, 1995 | June 27, 1997 | Bill Clinton |
| 10 | 
|
Christopher W.S. Ross | March 30, 1998[5] | December 13, 1998 | |
| - | 
|
Michael A. Sheehan | December 14, 1998 | August 9, 1999 (acting) | |
| 11 | August 9, 1999 | December 20, 2000 | |||
| 12 | 
|
Francis X. Taylor | July 13, 2001 | November 15, 2002 | George W. Bush |
| 13 | 
|
Cofer Black | November 26, 2002 | November 15, 2004 | |
| 14 | 
|
Henry A. Crumpton | August 2, 2005 | February 2, 2007[6] | |
| 15 | 
|
Dell L. Dailey | June 22, 2007 | April 3, 2009[7] | |
| 16 | 
|
Daniel Benjamin | May 28, 2009 | December 10, 2012 | Barack Obama |
| - | 
|
Jerry P. Lanier (acting) | December 10, 2012 | February 18, 2014 | |
| 17 | 
|
Tina Kaidanow | February 18, 2014 | February 22, 2016 | |
| - | 
|
Justin Siberell (acting) | February 22, 2016 | January 20, 2017 | |
| 18 | 
|
Nathan A. Sales | August 10, 2017 | January 20, 2021 | Donald Trump |
| - | 
|
John Godfrey (acting) | January 20, 2021 | March 21, 2022 | Joe Biden |
| - | 
|
Timothy Alan Betts (acting) | March 21, 2022 | January 13, 2023 | |
| - | 
|
Christopher A. Landberg (acting) | January 13, 2023 | December 29, 2023 | |
| 19 | 
|
Elizabeth H. Richard | December 29, 2023 | Incumbent |