The President's Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB) is an advisory body to the Executive Office of the President of the United States. According to its self-description, it "provides advice to the President concerning the quality and adequacy of intelligence collection, of analysis and estimates, of counterintelligence, and of other intelligence activities".
The PIAB, through its Intelligence Oversight Board (IOB), also advises the president on the legality of foreign intelligence activities.
History In January 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower created the agency, originally known as the President's Board of Consultants on Foreign Intelligence Activities (PBCFIA). The first board, under chair James Killian, included the following members:
Richard Conolly Jimmy Doolittle Benjamin Fairless John Hull Joseph P. Kennedy Robert Lovett Edward Ryerson
In May 1961, President John F. Kennedy renamed it to the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (PFIAB).
The board exists at the pleasure of the President, who can change its size and portfolio so in 1977 President Jimmy Carter abolished the PFIAB, but President Ronald Reagan re-established it later.The Issue Wonk. National Policy Facts and Analysis. Issuewonk.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
On 29 February 2008, President George W. Bush renamed the agency to President's Intelligence Advisory Board, its present form.
Most of the board's work is classified, but one public investigation involved the loss of U.S. nuclear secrets to China from the Los Alamos National Laboratory during the 1990s.Bill Getrz, "Covert board called crucial to presidents", The Washington Times, June 16, 2008, Page A1
Intelligence Oversight Board President Gerald Ford created the IOB following a 1975–76 investigation by the US Congress into domestic spying, assassination operations, and other abuses by intelligence agencies. His executive order doing so went into effect on 1 March 1976.Charlie Savage, "President weakens espionage oversight: Board created by Ford loses most of its power", Boston Globe, March 14, 2008 In 1993, the IOB became a committee of the PFIAB, under Executive Order #12863 of President Bill Clinton.
One of the IOB's functions is to examine violations of the laws and directives governing clandestine surveillance. The IOB received quarterly and annual reports from most US intelligence activities. Thirteen cases involving FBI actions between 2002 and 2004 were referred to the IOB for its review.Dan Eggen, "FBI Papers Indicate Intelligence Violations: Secret Surveillance Lacked Oversight", Washington Post, 23 October 2005
In an executive order issued on February 29, 2008, President George W. Bush terminated the IOB's authority to oversee the general counsel and inspector general of each U.S. intelligence agency, and erased the requirement that each inspector general file a report with the IOB every three months. The order also removed the IOB's authority to refer a matter to the Justice Department for a criminal investigation, and directed the IOB to notify the president of a problem only if other officials are not already "adequately" addressing that problem.
In August 2013 it was reported that the membership of the IOB had been reduced from 14 to 4 under President Barack Obama, possibly starting in early May at the beginning of the 2013 mass surveillance disclosures by Edward Snowden.
Membership
During the administration of President George W. Bush, the PIAB had 16 members selected from among distinguished citizens outside the government who were qualified "on the basis of achievement, experience, independence, and integrity." The members were not paid.
PIAB membership is generally considered public information; for example, the Clinton Administration posted the names of the members on a PFIAB web page,David Corn, "Who's On PFIAB?--A New Bush Secret", The Nation (blog), August 14, 2002, retrieved December 31, 2012 and the Trump Administration issued a press release announcing the nominations of new members.
George W. Bush In August 2002, Randy Deitering, the executive director of PFIAB, confirmed the membership list released by the White House press office in October 2001:David Corn, "Who's On PFIAB-A Bush Secret...Or Not? UPDATED" The Nation (blog), August 14, 2002, retrieved March 15, 2008
Cresencio S. Arcos Jr., AT&T executive and former US ambassador Jim Barksdale, former head of the internet company Netscape Robert Addison Day, chairman of the TWC Group, a money management firm Stephen Friedman, past chairman of Goldman Sachs Rita Hauser, lawyer Ray Lee Hunt, scion of the Texas oil fortune David E. Jeremiah, retired admiral Arnold Kanter, national security official in the George H. W. Bush administration and a founding member of the Scowcroft Group James C. Langdon Jr., a power-lawyer in Texas Alfred Lerner, chief executive of MBNA Elisabeth Pate-Cornell, chair of Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University Brent Scowcroft, the chair John Harrison Streicker, real estate magnate Pete Wilson, former governor of California Philip Zelikow, National Security Council staffer during the George H.W. Bush administration and later a counselor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
In 2003, there were indications of spying on members of the board by a foreign intelligence asset.
Barack Obama The entire PIAB membership that served under the administration of George W. Bush resigned as part of an agreed-upon move in the presidential transition of Barack Obama.
President Obama appointed Chuck Hagel, former United States Senator from Nebraska, and former University of Oklahoma President David Boren as PIAB co-chairs.
The following other members were appointed to the board under President Obama:
Roel Campos Richard Danzig appointed on December 1, 2010 Lee H. Hamilton Rita Hauser Paul G. Kaminski Ellen Laipson, president and CEO of the Henry L. Stimson Center Les Lyles Daniel Meltzer appointed on December 1, 2010 Jami Miscik appointed December 23, 2009White House Press Secretary, President Obama Announces Members of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board, December 23, 2009 Mona Sutphen appointed on September 6, 2011 Tom Wheeler appointed on April 27, 2011 Philip Zelikow appointed on September 6, 2011
In May 2013, the White House dismissed 10 members of the board. The four remaining members of the PIAB were: Richard Danzig Daniel Meltzer Jami Miscik Mona Sutphen
In August 2014, President Obama nominated six new members:
James S. Crown Scott Davis Jamie Dos Santos Julius Genachowski Shirley Ann Jackson Neal Wolin
Donald Trump (first administration) President Donald Trump named the following persons to the PIAB during his first term in office:
Safra Catz Saxby Chambliss Jim Donovan Steve Feinberg, chair Kevin Hulbert Jeremy Katz Samantha Ravich, vice chair David Robertson
In February 2019, President Trump named three additional members:
Charles E. Allen Daniel Hoffman John K. Hurley
In May 2019, President Trump named Ray Washburne as an additional member.
Joe Biden In May 2022, President Joe Biden named the below persons to the PIAB.
Gilman Louie Janet Napolitano Richard Verma Sandy Winnefeld
In June 2022, he named Evan Bayh to the PIAB.
In October 2022, he named Anne Finucane to the PIAB.
In November 2022, he named Mark Angelson to the PIAB.
In January 2023, he named Margaret Hamburg, Kim Cobb, and Kneeland Youngblood to the PIAB.
In March 2023, he named Hamilton E. James and Julia Santucci to the PIAB.
Donald Trump (second administration) President Donald Trump named the following persons to the PIAB at the beginning of his second term in office on February 11, 2025:
Wayne Berman Sander R. Gerber Scott Glabe Thomas Ollis Hicks Jr. Jeremy Katz Amaryllis Fox Kennedy Joshua Lobel Katie Miller Devin Nunes, chair Robert C. O'Brien Reince Priebus Brad Wenstrup
PIAB chairs PIAB chairpersons have been:PFIAB Chairpersons, The White House website, retrieved March 14, 2008
OfficeholderTerm startTerm endPresidentJames KillianJanuary 13, 1956March 1, 1958Dwight EisenhowerJohn HullMarch 1, 1958January 20, 1961VacantJanuary 20, 1961May 4, 1961John F. KennedyJames KillianMay 4, 1961April 23, 1963John F. Kennedy Lyndon JohnsonClark CliffordApril 23, 1963February 29, 1968Max TaylorFebruary 29, 1968May 1, 1970Richard NixonGeorge AndersonMay 1, 1970March 11, 1976Gerald FordLeo CherneMarch 11, 1976May 4, 1977Jimmy CarterBoard abolishedMay 4, 1977October 20, 1981Anne ArmstrongOctober 20, 1981July 17, 1990Ronald ReaganGeorge H. W. BushJohn TowerJuly 17, 1990April 5, 1991Bobby InmanApril 5, 1991January 20, 1993William CroweJanuary 20, 1993May 26, 1994Bill ClintonLes AspinMay 26, 1994May 21, 1995Warren RudmanMay 21, 1995January 16, 1996Tom FoleyJanuary 16, 1996November 19, 1997Warren RudmanNovember 19, 1997October 5, 2001George W. BushBrent ScowcroftOctober 5, 2001February 25, 2005Jim LangdonFebruary 25, 2005December 20, 2005Steve FriedmanDecember 20, 2005October 28, 2009Barack ObamaDavid BorenChuck HagelOctober 28, 2009February 27, 2013VacantFebruary 27, 2013August 29, 2014Shirley Ann JacksonJami MiscikAugust 29, 2014January 20, 2017Steve FeinbergMay 12, 2018January 20, 2021Donald TrumpSandy WinnefeldMay 4, 2022January 20, 2025Joe BidenDevin NunesJanuary 20, 2025PresentDonald Trump
IOB chairs These are chairs of the Advisory Board's committee of Intelligence Oversight Board
OfficeholderTerm startTerm endPresidentRobert MurphyMarch 11, 1976May 5, 1977Gerald FordJimmy CarterThomas FarmerMay 5, 1977October 20, 1981Ronald ReaganGlenn CampbellOctober 20, 1981February 26, 1990George H. W. BushJim ThompsonFebruary 26, 1990January 20, 1993William CroweJanuary 20, 1993May 26, 1994Bill ClintonAnthony HarringtonMay 26, 1994February 8, 2000Warren RudmanFebruary 8, 2000October 5, 2001George W. BushBrent ScowcroftOctober 5, 2001February 25, 2005Jim LangdonFebruary 25, 2005December 20, 2005Steve FriedmanDecember 20, 2005October 28, 2009Barack ObamaChuck HagelOctober 28, 2009February 27, 2013Dan MeltzerFebruary 27, 2013May 24, 2015Neal WolinMay 24, 2015January 20, 2017Steve FeinbergAugust 16, 2018January 20, 2021Donald Trump
Board executive directors 1956–1959: John Cassidy 1959–1961, 1961–1970: Patrick Coyne 1970–1973: Gerard Burke 1973–1977: Wheaton Byers 1977: Lionel Olmer 1977–1981: Board abolished 1981–1983: Norman Wood 1983–1984: Fred Demech 1984–1988: Gary Schmitt 1988–1989: Fred Demech 1989–1991: Nina Stewart 1991–1992: Vacant 1992–1995: Eugene Yeates 1995–2003: Randy Deitering 2003–2005: Joan Dempsey 2005–2017: Stefanie Osburn
Board members
David Abshire: 1981–1983 Stephen Ailes: 1976–1977 (IOB) Lew Allen: 1990–1999 (IOB) Brooke Anderson: 2015–present George Anderson: 1969–1970; 1976–1977 Martin Anderson: 1982–1985 Cresencio Arcos: 1999–2003 Leslie Arends: 1976–1977 Anne Legendre Armstrong: 1981–1990, Chairman Zoë Baird: 1993–2001 Howard Baker: 1985–1987; 1988–1990 William Baker: 1959–1961; 1961–1977; 1981–1990 Jim Barksdale: 2001–2009 Robert Barrow: 1984–1985 Richard Bloch: 1996–1998 Alfred Bloomingdale: 1981–1982 David Boren: 2009–2013 (IOB) Frank Borman: 1981–1982 Denis Bovin: 2006–2010 Omar Bradley: 1956 William Brody: 2002–2005 David Bruce: 1956–1957 Shelby Bryan: 1999–2001 Zbigniew Brzezinski: 1988–1990 Glenn Campbell: 1981–1990 (IOB) Roel Campos: 2009–2013 Ann Caracristi: 1993–2001 (IOB) Bill Casey: 1976–1977 Leo Cherne: 1973–1976 (IOB, 1976–1977); Vice Chair, 1981–1990 Clark Clifford: 1961–1963 John Connally: 1970–1971; 1972–1975; 1976–1977; 1981–1983 Richard Conolly: 1956–1961 Jim Crown: 2014–present Arthur Culvahouse: 2005–2010 Richard Danzig: 2010–present (IOB, 2010–2015) Colgate Darden: 1957–1961 Scott Davis: 2014–2015 Robert Day: 2001–2005 John Deutch: 1990–1993 William DeWitt: 2005–2010 Jimmy Doolittle: 1956–1961; 1961–1964 Jamie Dos Santos: 2014–present Sidney Drell: 1993–2001 Thomas Eagleton: 1993–2000 James Ellis: 2005–2009 Donald Evans: 2005–2009 Martin Faga: 2005–2009