Vice President Joseph R. Biden swore in CIA Director David H. Petraeus today as the 20th director of the spy agency in a ceremony at CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper attended.
Biden spoke to hundreds of employees in the original headquarters’ lobby.
“You have such incredible character, all of you,” Vice President Biden told the gathered CIA officers. “Character runs through the very spine and history of this Agency. I know that because I’m one of your most appreciative customers, and the President and I every day witness the incredible work you produce and the invaluable service you render to our fellow Americans. And your value continues to appreciate as the threats against us continue to accumulate.”
Petraeus, who had already been officially sworn in early last month, thanked the Vice President and the employees for “the opportunity to continue to serve our country—and to do it here, where I wanted to be, with some of the most talented, ingenious, and dedicated men and women that America has to offer.”
“I had very high expectations of this Agency, of the work force, in accomplishing the very important missions given to us,” Petraeus said. “And I must say, in the first month, you all have far exceeded the very high expectations that I had.”
“I obviously promise that I will give it everything that I have,” Petraeus added.
