Irish American Joseph Maguire has been named the acting director of National Intelligence.Getty Images

Joseph Maguire will head National Intelligence in the wake of Dan Coats’s resignation

Irish American Joseph Maguire has been named as the acting director of National Intelligence, President Trump announced in a tweet on Thursday evening.

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On August 8, President Trump made the announcement in two tweets:

Trump’s announcement of Maguire’s nomination came only about an hour after he revealed that Sue Gordon, the current deputy director of National Intelligence, had resigned:

The New York Times reports: "A federal statute says that if the position of director of national intelligence becomes vacant, the deputy director — currently Ms. Gordon — shall serve as acting director."

However, as the New York Times reports, "Mr. Trump had decided not to allow her to rise to the role of acting director, according to people familiar with his plans."

President Trump instead floated Texas Republican Congressman John Ratcliffe as a potential nominee, tweeting on July 28:

However, on August 2, Trump slammed the "LameStream Media" for their "unfair" treatment of Ratcliffe, adding that Ratcliffe chose to remain in Congress:

Though he did not tweet it, President Trump reportedly met bipartisan opposition when he announced Ratcliffe as a potential nominee.

NPR reported on August 8 that Gordon gave President Trump a handwritten note, allegedly referring to her displeasure about resigning: "I offer this letter as an act of respect & patriotism, not preference. You should have your team. Godspeed, Sue.”

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Who is Joseph Maguire?

The National Counterterrorism Center, where Maguire is currently the director, writes:  "The Honorable Joseph Maguire was sworn in as the sixth director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) Dec. 27, 2018. He previously served as NCTC’s Deputy Director for Strategic Operational Planning from 2007 to 2010 and represented the Center as a part of the National Security Council’s Counterterrorism Security Group."

"Prior to his confirmation, Maguire served as president and CEO of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides college scholarships and educational counseling to the surviving children of fallen special operations personnel, and immediate financial grants to severely combat-wounded and hospitalized special operations personnel and their families. Prior to leading the foundation, he was a vice president with Booz Allen Hamilton."

"Maguire retired from the United States Navy in 2010 as a vice admiral, culminating a 36-year career as a naval special warfare officer. He commanded at every level, including the Naval Special Warfare Command."

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"He earned his bachelor’s degree from Manhattan College and master’s in Scientific and Technical Intelligence from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Maguire also served as a national security fellow at Harvard University."

Maguire is set to become acting director of National Intelligence on August 15.