Mike Pompeo: U.S. politician, CIA Director and Secretary of State

Education and early career

Pompeo graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as an armor officer in the U.S. Army. After military service he earned a law degree from Harvard Law School and worked in private practice and business. He co-founded and led companies in the manufacturing and energy sectors, gaining experience as a CEO and executive before entering electoral politics.

Congressional service (2011–2017)

Pompeo was elected to represent Kansas's 4th district in 2010 and served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his time in Congress he emphasized national security, trade, and conservative domestic priorities. He also served as a Kansas representative to the Republican National Committee and built a reputation as a vocal critic of policies he saw as weakening American power abroad.

Director of the CIA and Secretary of State

In November 2016 President-elect Donald Trump selected Pompeo to head the Central Intelligence Agency; the Senate confirmed his nomination and he took office in January 2017. In March 2018 the president nominated him to succeed Rex Tillerson as U.S. Secretary of State, a move the Senate confirmed in April 2018. As Secretary, Pompeo led the State Department through the final years of the Trump administration and prioritized a hard-line stance toward Iran and a confrontational posture on issues involving China.

Positions, actions and reputation

Pompeo is often described as a hawkish and outspoken official who emphasized U.S. strategic competition, human rights rhetoric, and maximum pressure on adversaries. His tenure included advocacy for withdrawal from international agreements he deemed unfavorable and public denunciations of human-rights abuses by certain foreign governments. Supporters cite robust defense of American interests; critics argue his approach politicized diplomatic institutions.

Notable facts and further reading

Pompeo's career spans military service, private-sector leadership and high-level government posts. He resigned his congressional seat to accept the intelligence post, and later moved to the State Department where he served until January 2021. For concise profiles and primary source material, consult the following:

• Overview and biography
• Secretary of State profile
• CIA leadership page
• Congressional biography
• Kansas's 4th congressional district information
• Republican Party affiliation
• Republican National Committee role
• Selection by President Trump
• Succession and predecessor context