Kenneth Brill

Kenneth Brill
Director, National Counterproliferation Center
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Previous job: U.S. ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency
Reports to: Director of national Intelligence

In addition to improving analysis and intelligence collection, several reform advocates have called for a new center focused on countering the spread of deadly weapons, particularly chemical, biological and nuclear. The Bush administration's answer is the National Counterproliferation Center, and its first director has approached the problem largely from a diplomatic perspective.

Kenneth Brill was, until recently, the U.S. ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency. While there, he publicly accused the government of Iran of changing its explanations about why it wanted to reconstitute a nuclear program, ostensibly for the peaceful purpose of energy.

Following disclosures of previously undeclared nuclear activities, in March 2004, Brill said, "The Iranians change their stories to fit the facts." He added, "I think it's striking that the more the agency learns, the more the Iranians have to change their stories," and he predicted the IAEA would have to deal with Iran "for many years to come."

The counterproliferation center is envisioned as an intelligence and operations apparatus, not a diplomatic arm. Reportedly, some Republicans were upset that Negroponte chose a member of the Foreign Service to lead it, not a manager with operational experience. They believe Brill isn't committed to the administration's Proliferation Security Initiative, which goes after weapons shipments at sea.

Brill was the ambassador to Cyprus during the Clinton administration, and prior to that served as executive secretary for the State Department. He has served in Foreign Service posts in India, Jordan and Ghana. He also has been executive assistant to the undersecretary of State for political affairs, director of the Office of Egyptian Affairs and a country officer for Sudan and Uganda.