Don’t you have to work your way up to the top of FBI by being an agent for X number of years? If not, I agree, Clarke would be great in that job.
Comey was never an FBI agent
Unfortunately, NO. The Director position is purely political and appointed. obama could have appointed anyone he wanted and as long as he/she was confirmed, they are the boss. The lower command positions are full of career agents, but their checks depend on how much ass they kiss of those appointed over them throughout their careers.
Same goes for the US Marshal service. There are only 50 or so, actual US Marshals. And they are appointees from whoever is in charge. All the guys you see running around, the career-real deal folks, are Deputy US Marshals.
Look at DHS. Jeh Johnson is a lawyer who, obviously, knows absolutely nothing about protecting this country. Same goes for Ash Carter, SECDEF. He’s a physicist that worked on DoD projects. Never served a day in the military.