Dr. Stacey A. Dixon Could Become First Black Woman To Rank As No. 2 Intelligence Official

Stacey A. Dixon/Photo Courtesy of the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation

Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate several individuals to serve in various government departments. Among the nominees was Dr. Stacey A. Dixon, known for becoming the eighth Deputy Director of the National-Geospatial Intelligence Agency in 2019 and her work with the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA). Should the Senate confirm Biden’s nomination, Dixon will be the first Black woman to rank as a No. 2 intelligence official.

Biden expressed

his intent to nominate Dixon for “Principal Deputy Director, Office of the Director of National Intelligence.” More than qualified for the position, Dixon has experience working with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and served as a staff member for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

“Dr. Dixon holds both a doctorate and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University,” a White House release stated. “She was also a chemical engineering postdoctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota.”

And her résumé doesn’t end there. The D.C. native is also a presidentially nominated member of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s Board of Visitors and

works as a liaison for the Spelman College Center of Excellence for Minority Women in STEM.

Describing Dixon as “a talented and innovative intelligence professional,” Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said in a press release, “Dr. Dixon possesses a deep knowledge of the intelligence tradecraft and understands the critical work intelligence professionals perform every day. I cannot think of a more exceptional leader to join the ODNI team and help set the strategic direction for the Intelligence Community.”

Following a Senate confirmation of Biden’s nomination, Dixon is on her way to earning the highest-ranking intelligence position. Not only will that impact diversity within the intelligence community, but it also influences a younger generation of Black children who want to pursue that career path.

According to the New York Times, the No. 2 intelligence official spot has been vacant since the Trump Administration. The former U.S. president allegedly blocked Sue Gordon from the position in favor of his preferred nominee Rep. John Ratcliffe, a Republican from Texas.