Who Is William Burns, Nominated By Joe Biden As CIA Head? Burns retired from the US Foreign Service in 2014 after service for 33 years and holds the highest rank in the service – that of a career diplomat. AP/PTI Outlook Web Bureau 2021-01-12T07:40:40+05:30 Who Is William Burns, Nominated By Joe Biden As CIA Head? outlookindia.com 2021-01-12T07:41:44+05:30 US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday nominated William J Burns as head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). If his nomination is confirmed by the Senate, he will become the first career diplomat to take the post of CIA director.