Trump nominated Gina Haspel to become the first woman director of the CIA

US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he nominated Gina Haspel, who currently serves as the deputy director of the agency, to become the first woman director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Trump nominated Haspel after he announced that the current CIA director, Mike Pompeo, will replace Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State.

“Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job! Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service! Gina Haspel will become the new Director of the CIA, and the first woman so chosen. Congratulations to all!” Trump said on Twitter.

According to Newsweek, Haspel currently serves as the deputy director of the CIA and will have to be confirmed as the director.

In a statement to The Washington Post, Trump praised Haspel and said she and Pompeo “have worked together for more than a year, and have developed a great mutual respect.”

“After 30 years as an officer of the Central Intelligence Agency, it has been my honor to serve as its Deputy Director alongside Mike Pompeo for the past year,” Haspel told the Post.

“I am grateful to President Trump for the opportunity, and humbled by his confidence in me, to be nominated to be the next Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.”