Nicholas S. Kass
Senior Fellow, European Affairs
Nicholas S. Kass is Senior Fellow for European Affairs at the Center for the National Interest in Washington, DC. He has over 30 years of foreign policy experience with the United States Government as an award-winning analyst, reporter, intelligence collector, diplomat, policy manager, and leader. Most recently (until January 2026) he was acting Chairman of the National Intelligence Council (NIC) in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
He served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations at the U.S. Department of State (2020-2021), and was Director for European Affairs (2019-2020, 1999-2001) and Director for Intelligence Programs (2006-2008) at the White House/National Security Council.
Mr. Kass was Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Europe and senior analyst for Aegean/Eastern Mediterranean and Kurdish issues at the NIC (2018-2019), and the principal drafter of two National Intelligence Estimates (2019, 1999).
He also served as a team chief for State Legislative Affairs (2004-2006), liaising with the U.S. Congress.
As Deputy Political Counselor (2001-2003) and Political Officer (1995-1998) at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, Mr. Kass was the Mission’s point officer for developing key relationships with leading politicians, activists, academics, and military and religious leaders.
He also served at the CIA, including as Intelligence Briefer to the Director of Central Intelligence, and was awarded for unique contributions to the CIA HUMINT mission.
Mr. Kass holds a J.D. from the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America, a Master of Arts in Government from Georgetown University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from DePaul University. He speaks Turkish and Kurdish.