Graduated from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University with a bachelor's degree, 1976, and from the School of International Affairs at Columbia University with a master's degree in 1978.
Research director, American Hellenic Institute, a Greek-American lobbying organization, 1978-79.
Worked for the Solar Energy Industries Association, 1979-82.
Legislative assistant and then legislative director to Republican U.S. Senator H. John Heinz III of Pennsylvania, specializing in national security and energy issues, 1982-85
Staff member, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, 1985-89. Designee to vice chairman, Democratic U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont.
Staff director, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, 1989-93. Served under chairmanship of Democratic U.S. Senator David C. Boren of Oklahoma.
Member, President Bill Clinton's national security transition team, 1993.
Special assistant to the president and senior director for intelligence programs at the National Security Council, 1993-95.
Deputy director, Central Intelligence, 1995-96
Acting director, Central Intelligence, 1996-97, following departure of director John Deutch.
Sworn in as director of Central Intelligence on July 11, 1997 following unanimous votes by Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and full Senate. Position heads Central Intelligence Agency and network of about a dozen branches of intelligence.
Became first CIA director in 28 years to remain in office after the White House switched occupants, after George W. Bush became 43rd U.S. president, January 20, 2001.