Benjamin A. Powell

Benjamin Albond Powell, of Florida, was nominated February 10, 2006, by President George W. Bush to be General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (new position).

Powell was appointed to the position on January 4, 2006, by President Bush in a recess appointment. Powell was first nominated June 9, 2005, by President Bush and his nomination was sent to the Senate on June 10, 2005. His nomination was not confirmed.

At the time of his nomination, Powell was serving as Associate Counsel in the Office of Counsel to the President.

Appointment on Hold Senator Carl Levin of Michigan "has yet another hold--on Benjamin Powell, who was nominated to be John Negroponte's general counsel in June. This hold is particularly vexing: The legal impediments to intelligence-sharing are among the thorniest problems facing the reorganized intelligence community." --Kate O'Beirne, National Review, August 29, 2005.

Profiles
Powell previously served as Corporate Counsel to Vitria Technology, Incorporated. "Prior to this position, Mr. Powell served as an Associate with Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd and Evans law firm. He previously served as a Law Clerk to United States Supreme Court Justices Byron R. White and John Paul Stevens. Earlier in his career, Mr. Powell served as a Captain in the United States Air Force. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. from Columbia University."