Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced Thursday that a decorated U.S. Army veteran, former CIA paramilitary officer, and proud America First conservative is taking the reins at one of the nation’s most critical security posts.

Joe Kent, a Gold Star husband and outspoken MAGA Republican who once ran for Congress, has officially been sworn in as the new Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). The role places Kent at the forefront of U.S. efforts to identify, prevent, and neutralize terrorist threats in coordination with the CIA, FBI, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security.

“It was an honor to swear in Joe Kent as the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center at @ODNIgov,” Gabbard announced in a post on X, sharing a photo of the ceremony. Praising Kent’s service record, she added: “With two decades of military service, including 11 combat deployments, Joe has consistently put country before self. His experience serving as the tip of the spear in some of the world’s most dangerous places has given him a deep, practical understanding of the threats we face. I am proud to welcome soldier, father, husband, patriot @NCTCKent to our leadership team!”

Gabbard also underscored Kent’s mission under President Trump’s second-term national security strategy. “Under Joe’s leadership, the National Counterterrorism Center will reinvigorate its focus on counterterrorism and counternarcotics, integrating Federal, State and Local law enforcement and intelligence agencies to carry out President Trump’s border security mandate and ensure the safety, security and freedom of the American people,” she said in a statement.

Kent, 45, is no stranger to the fight. An Army Ranger with 11 combat deployments — mostly in Iraq — he later served as a CIA paramilitary officer before entering politics in 2020 following the tragic death of his wife, Shannon, who was killed in a suicide bombing. In 2021, Kent narrowly lost a congressional race in Washington State that shocked political observers at the time.

Now, after securing Senate confirmation earlier this month, Kent has stepped into a role that could define the next phase of America’s counterterrorism posture. “It’s a profound honor to be confirmed as NCTC Director at this pivotal moment,” Kent said. “I’ve spent over two decades on the front lines of the counterterrorism fight, from Fallujah to Yemen, losing my wife Shannon and countless brothers-in-arms to this war. Their sacrifices drive me to lead with relentless focus to keep Americans safe. There’s no better time to take on this mission, and I’m deeply grateful to President Trump and DNI Gabbard for entrusting me to lead NCTC in defeating the threats we face.”

Kent’s appointment follows Gabbard’s continued push for transparency in the intelligence community. Just last week, she declassified documents exposing how President Barack Obama’s intelligence apparatus manipulated reports on alleged Russian election interference in 2016. According to a Dec. 8, 2016 Presidential Daily Brief, there was “minimal evidence” of meaningful Russian involvement, and hacks had “no impact on recent U.S. election results.”

Gabbard revealed that Obama ordered then-DNI James Clapper to produce an alternative assessment falsely claiming Russia intervened to help Trump. That report was later leaked to the media and used to smear Trump throughout his first term — a narrative now collapsing under fresh scrutiny.

With Joe Kent now at the helm of the NCTC and Gabbard cleaning house at ODNI, President Trump’s second-term security team is signaling a decisive break from the politicization of intelligence under the Obama-Biden era.