The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) serves as the head of the Intelligence Community (IC) and is the principal advisor to the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council (HSC) for intelligence matters related to national security. Also, the Director oversees and directs the implementation of the National Intelligence Program. The President appoints the DNI and the Principal Deputy Director with the advice and consent of the Senate.

The DNI's responsibilities, among others, are to lead the IC; oversee the coordination of foreign relationships between elements of the IC and intelligence services of foreign governments; establish requirements and priorities for collection, analysis, production, and dissemination of national intelligence; coordinate reform of security clearance and acquisition processes; achieve auditable financial statements; support legislative, legal and administrative requirements; ensure compliance with statutory and Presidentially-mandated responsibilities; and transform the IC into a unified, collaborative and coordinated enterprise.

The DNI Organization is composed of the DNI Staff and Intelligence Community Mission and Support Activities (MSAs). The DNI Staff is primarily responsible for IC policy and oversight and the preparation of the National Intelligence Program Budget. The MSAs are directly responsible for providing IC-wide substantive intelligence, counterintelligence strategy and strategic analysis, research and development, and training and education. The Director of the Intelligence Staff is responsible for synchronizing and integrating efforts across the DNI Organization.