Nick Rasmussen will step down as director of the National Counterterrorism Center at the end of this year, according to Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats.
The National Counterterrorism Center serves as a clearinghouse of foreign and domestic intelligence related to terrorism and militant plots.
Rasmussen’s departure from government comes after three years heading up NCTC; he’s also a former member of the National Security Council under President George W. Bush. He’ll be replaced on an acting basis by NCTC Deputy Director Russ Travers.
“Nick is deeply committed to the counterterrorism mission and has skillfully guided the nation through an evolving and complex terrorism threat environment,” Coats said in a statement. “With 27 years in government, Nick is a dedicated public servant who served in senior roles at the State Department and the White House before coming to lead NCTC.”
Last year Rasmussen pointed to a broader, deeper terror threat accelerated by the wide availability of technology.
Today’s adversaries “have access to communications and weapons technologies and understanding that simply didn’t exist for terrorists a decade ago or even five years ago,” he said at a Washington event.
