Career Timeline of Mike Pompeo: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Mike Pompeo built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Mike Pompeo is an American politician who held significant roles in the Trump administration. He served as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2017 to 2018 and then as the 70th United States Secretary of State from 2018 to 2021. Prior to his executive branch service, Pompeo was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Kansas's 4th congressional district from 2011 to 2017.
1986: Service in the U.S. Army
From 1986, Mike Pompeo served in the U.S. Army as an armor officer with the West Germany-based 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry in the 4th Infantry Division.
1991: Pompeo Leaves the U.S. Army
In 1991, Mike Pompeo left the U.S. Army at the rank of captain.
1996: Acquired Aircraft Parts Manufacturers
In 1996, Mike Pompeo and three West Point friends acquired three aircraft-parts manufacturers in Wichita, Kansas, and St. Louis, renaming the entity Thayer Aerospace.
1998: Entrepreneur in aerospace and oilfield industries
In 1998, Mike Pompeo became an entrepreneur in the aerospace and oilfield industries.
2006: Sold Interest in Nex-Tech Aerospace
In 2006, Mike Pompeo sold his interest in Nex-Tech Aerospace and became president of Sentry International, an oilfield equipment manufacturer.
2010: Elected to the United States House of Representatives
In 2010, Mike Pompeo was elected to the United States House of Representatives, representing Kansas's 4th congressional district.
2010: Won Republican primary for Kansas's 4th District congressional seat
In 2010, Mike Pompeo won the Republican primary for Kansas's 4th District congressional seat with 39% of the vote, defeating state senator Jean Schodorf and two other candidates, and later won the general election against Democratic nominee Raj Goyle.
2011: Represented Kansas's 4th Congressional District
From 2011, Mike Pompeo represented Kansas's 4th congressional district until his appointment as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in January 2017.
2011: US House of Representatives
In 2011, Mike Pompeo served in the United States House of Representatives.
2012: Defeated Robert Tillman
In 2012, Mike Pompeo defeated Democratic nominee Robert Tillman by a margin of 62–32%.
2013: Supported NSA surveillance programs
In 2013, Pompeo voiced his support for the National Security Agency's surveillance programs, characterizing the agency's efforts as "good and important work."
2014: Won General Election
In 2014, Mike Pompeo won the general election with 67% of the vote, defeating Democrat Perry Schuckman.
July 21, 2015: Alleged secret side agreements between Iran and IAEA
On July 21, 2015, Pompeo and Senator Tom Cotton alleged the existence of secret side agreements between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on procedures for inspection and verification of Iran's nuclear activities under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
November 2015: Visited Israel and supported Netanyahu
In November 2015, Pompeo visited Israel and said, "Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu is a true partner of the American people."
2015: Advocated withdrawal from nuclear deal
In 2015, Mike Pompeo advocated for the withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.
2015: Original Sponsor of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act
In 2015, Mike Pompeo was the original sponsor of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act.
November 18, 2016: Nominated to be CIA Director
On November 18, 2016, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Mike Pompeo to be the director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
2016: Won general election against Democrat Daniel B. Giroux
In 2016, Mike Pompeo beat Democrat Daniel B. Giroux in the general election with 61% of the vote.
2016: Advocated for metadata collection
In 2016, Pompeo advocated that "Congress should pass a law re-establishing collection of all metadata, and combining it with publicly available financial and lifestyle information into a comprehensive, searchable database."
2016: Met with William E. Binney
In 2016, at Trump's request, Mike Pompeo met with former NSA official William E. Binney to discuss his doubts of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections.
2016: Senators Running for Reelection
In 2018, during the Senate confirmation vote, five of ten Democratic senators running for reelection in 2018 in states that Trump won in 2016, voted to confirm Mike Pompeo.
January 2017: Appointment to CIA director
In January 2017, Mike Pompeo was appointed as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
January 2017: Reaffirmation of Saudi Arabia-United States Relations
In January 2017, Pompeo reaffirmed Saudi Arabia–United States relations since Trump took office.
January 23, 2017: Confirmation as CIA Director
On January 23, 2017, Mike Pompeo was confirmed by the Senate as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency with a vote of 66–32, and was sworn in later that day.
February 2017: Travels to Turkey and Saudi Arabia
In February 2017, Mike Pompeo traveled to Turkey and Saudi Arabia, meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to discuss policy on Syria and ISIL, and honoring the then-crown prince of Saudi Arabia Muhammad bin Nayef with the CIA's "George Tenet" Medal.
March 2017: Invoked state secrets privilege
In March 2017, Mike Pompeo formally invoked state secrets privilege to prevent CIA officers from being compelled to testify in the trial of Bruce Jessen and James Elmer Mitchell.
April 2017: Called WikiLeaks a non-state hostile intelligence service
In April 2017, Pompeo called WikiLeaks "a non-state hostile intelligence service" and described Assange as a "narcissist" and "a fraud—a coward hiding behind a screen".
April 2017: Described WikiLeaks as a hostile intelligence service
On 13 April 2017, in an address at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Mike Pompeo described WikiLeaks as a "hostile intelligence service," in response to the publication of Vault 7.
June 2017: Named Michael D'Andrea head of CIA's Iran mission center
In June 2017, Mike Pompeo named Michael D'Andrea head of the CIA's Iran mission center.
July 2017: Expressed desire for regime change in North Korea
In July 2017, Pompeo expressed desire for regime change in North Korea, stating that the most dangerous thing about the country was "the character who holds the control over them today."
August 2017: Took Direct Command of Counterintelligence Mission Center
In August 2017, Mike Pompeo took direct command of the Counterintelligence Mission Center, raising concerns among former CIA officials.
September 2017: Sought authority for CIA to make covert drone strikes
In September 2017, Mike Pompeo sought authority for the CIA to make covert drone strikes without the Pentagon's involvement, including inside Afghanistan.
2017: Director of the CIA
In 2017, Mike Pompeo served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the first administration of Donald Trump.
2017: End of term in the House of Representatives
In 2017, Mike Pompeo's term in the United States House of Representatives came to an end.
2017: Supported moving US embassy to Jerusalem
In 2017, Pompeo supported Trump's decision to move America's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
2017: Worked to undermine Iran nuclear deal
In 2017, Pompeo worked to undermine the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal with Iran, stating he looked forward to rolling back "this disastrous deal."
2017: Appointed Brian Bulatao as CIA COO
In 2017, after becoming head of the CIA, Mike Pompeo named his former business partner, Brian Bulatao, as the agency's chief operating officer.
March 13, 2018: Nomination as Secretary of State
On March 13, 2018, President Trump announced that he would nominate Mike Pompeo to serve as secretary of state.
March 31, 2018: Rex Tillerson Steps Down
On March 31, 2018, Rex Tillerson stepped down as Secretary of State.
April 26, 2018: Sworn in as Secretary of State
On April 26, 2018, Mike Pompeo was sworn in as Secretary of State, promising to prioritize improving low morale at the State Department.
July 2018: Raised Issue of Xinjiang internment camps
In July 2018, Mike Pompeo raised the issue of Xinjiang internment camps and human rights abuses against the Uyghur minority in China.
August 2018: Thanked Saudi Arabia for Support
In August 2018, Mike Pompeo thanked Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman "for Saudi Arabia's support for northeast Syria's urgent stabilization needs" and discussed the situation in Yemen.
August 2018: Called for Russia to release Oleg Sentsov
In August 2018, Pompeo called on Russia to "immediately release" jailed Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov.
September 2018: Backed US military support for Saudi Arabia in Yemen war
In September 2018, Pompeo backed continued U.S. military support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen over staff objections, potentially jeopardizing $2 billion in weapons sales to Gulf allies.
October 10, 2018: Praised Israel
On October 10, 2018, Mike Pompeo said Israel "is everything we want the entire Middle East to look like going forward" and that the Israel–United States relations are "stronger than ever".
November 2018: Blamed Iran for Yemen crisis
In November 2018, Pompeo blamed Iran for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, while praising Saudi Arabia's humanitarian relief efforts.
2018: Visited North Korea and met with Kim Jong-un
During Easter weekend 2018, Mike Pompeo visited North Korea and met with Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un to discuss the upcoming 2018 North Korea–United States summit between Kim and Trump.
2018: Secretary of State
In 2018, Mike Pompeo became the 70th United States Secretary of State, serving until 2021.
2018: Confirmation as Secretary of State
On April 26, 2018, Mike Pompeo was confirmed as Secretary of State by the full Senate by a 57–42 vote.
January 7, 2019: Pompeo's Diplomatic Tour of the Middle East
On January 7, 2019, Pompeo began a diplomatic tour of the Middle East, including stops in Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, and the Gulf nations, to reassure U.S. partners that the U.S. mission to degrade the Islamic State and counter Iranian influence remained unchanged despite the withdrawal of troops from Syria.
January 23, 2019: U.S. Recognizes Juan Guaidó as Interim President of Venezuela
On January 23, 2019, Pompeo announced that the U.S. would recognize Juan Guaidó as the legitimate interim president of Venezuela. American diplomats would remain in Caracas, despite Nicolás Maduro giving them three days to evacuate. A ceremony hosted by the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce, originally set to honor Pompeo and Bolsonaro, was canceled after protests for Bolsonaro's "homophobic, racist and misogynist remarks".
March 2019: Expressed Confidence in the Lord
In March 2019, following a visit to the Western Wall with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mike Pompeo expressed confidence that "the Lord is at work here" regarding Israel's conflicts with Iran.
March 2019: Pompeo's communications with Giuliani
In late March 2019, Pompeo and Rudy Giuliani exchanged emails and phone calls before Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch was recalled from Ukraine. Giuliani later admitted he spoke to Pompeo in late March 2019 to relay information gathered during his Ukrainian research and then provided him memos of his interviews of two former Ukrainian prosecutors.
April 2019: Texas A&M University Speech
In April 2019, in a speech at Texas A&M University, Mike Pompeo said "I was the CIA director. We lied, we cheated, we stole. It was like we had entire training courses . . . it reminds you of the glory of the American experiment."
May 14, 2019: Pompeo Meets with Russian Foreign Minister and President in Sochi
On May 14, 2019, Pompeo met with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov for three hours and with Russian president Vladimir Putin for ninety minutes in Sochi, Russia. Discussions included Syria, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, and the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). Pompeo said he raised the issue of Russian election interference, which Putin denied.
May 2019: Pompeo pushes through $8.1 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia and UAE
In May 2019, Pompeo announced an "emergency" to push through $8.1 billion of arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, citing Iranian activity in the Middle East. This action triggered congressional opposition and an investigation into the propriety of the arms sale.
October 23, 2019: FOIA Request for Ukraine-related Records
On October 23, 2019, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request led to a federal judge ordering the State Department to release Ukraine-related records, including communications between Pompeo and Rudy Giuliani.
November 20, 2019: Sondland Testimony on Ukraine
On November 20, 2019, Gordon Sondland testified that Rick Perry, Kurt Volker, and himself kept in touch with Rudy Giuliani about President Trump's desire for Ukraine to investigate corruption, including the 2016 election and Burisma. Sondland also stated that the NSC and State Department leadership, including Pompeo, were kept informed, and that as late as September 24, Pompeo was telling Volker to talk with Giuliani.
November 26, 2019: Pompeo's statement on Ukrainian interference in 2016 election
On November 26, 2019, Pompeo appeared to grant legitimacy to a debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine, rather than or in addition to Russia, was behind interference in the 2016 United States elections. He stated that the U.S. has a duty to investigate any information indicating that a country has interfered with American elections.
April 23, 2020: Pompeo claims China denied U.S. scientists access to investigate COVID-19 origin
On April 23, 2020, Pompeo claimed that China had denied U.S. scientists permission to enter the country to ascertain the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic. He did not provide details of any requests for such visits.
May 13, 2020: Pompeo's visit to Israel
On May 13, 2020, Pompeo made a swift visit to Israel, marking his first trip overseas since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
May 2020: Trump fires Inspector General Linick at Pompeo's recommendation
In May 2020, President Trump fired Inspector General Linick at Pompeo's recommendation. This action was scrutinized by Congress, with Linick later testifying that he was improperly pressured to halt an investigation.
June 2020: Pompeo Declines to Run for Senate in Kansas
In June 2020, Pompeo ultimately declined to enter the race after considering leaving the Trump administration to run for the U.S. Senate seat in Kansas, following Pat Roberts' announcement that he would not seek re-election in the 2020 election.
June 2020: Linick testifies about pressure to halt investigation
In June 2020, the fired Inspector General Linick testified that Brian Bulatao, a Pompeo ally, attempted to bully and improperly pressure him into halting an investigation.
July 23, 2020: Announced end of blind engagement with China
On July 23, 2020, Pompeo announced the end of what he called "blind engagement" with the Chinese government, and criticized Xi Jinping as a "true believer in a bankrupt totalitarian ideology" during his Communist China and the Free World's Future speech.
August 2020: Afghan government releases Taliban prisoners
By August 2020, the Afghan government had released all but 400 of the 5,000 imprisoned Taliban members required by the deal brokered by the Trump administration. Pompeo urged the Afghan government to release the remaining prisoners.
August 2020: Akard resigns as acting IG and OIG releases report on emergency arms sales
In August 2020, Stephen Akard resigned as acting IG after Linick's firing. A week later, the OIG issued a report on emergency arms sales, finding that Pompeo did not violate procedures but the State Department failed to fully consider the humanitarian impact of the sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
August 25, 2020: Pompeo speaks at Republican National Convention during official trip
On August 25, 2020, Pompeo recorded a speech during an official diplomatic visit to Jerusalem for the Republican National Convention, supporting Donald Trump. This broke precedent, as State Department leaders typically do not speak at political party events.
August 27, 2020: Pompeo Concludes Middle East Trip Aimed at Encouraging Arab Countries to Follow the UAE's Move
On August 27, 2020, Pompeo concluded a Middle East trip after visiting Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al-Said, aimed at encouraging Arab countries to follow the UAE's move in normalizing relations with Israel. Hugh Lovatt suggested that the lack of commitment on delivering F-35s to the UAE could have slowed a second wave of normalization.
September 2020: Accused China of fomenting racial unrest in the US
In September 2020, Pompeo accused the Chinese government of trying to foment racial unrest in the United States during an address to state lawmakers in Wisconsin.
September 2020: Enacted sanctions against ICC officials
Pompeo enacted sanctions against the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor and other officials in September 2020, continuing a non-cooperative policy towards the court.
October 2020: Cancelled visits due to Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis
In October 2020, Pompeo cancelled visits to South Korea and Mongolia after Donald Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis, but held a meeting with foreign ministers of Quad allies, accusing the Chinese Communist Party of "exploitation, corruption and coercion".
November 10, 2020: Pompeo's response to transition of power
On November 10, 2020, when asked about a smooth transition to the Biden administration, Pompeo responded that there would be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.
2020: Supported Efforts to Overturn 2020 Election
In 2020, as Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo supported Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
January 12, 2021: Pompeo cancels European trip
On January 12, 2021, Pompeo cancelled a planned European trip because European diplomats declined to meet with him.
January 2021: Pompeo joins Hudson Institute as distinguished fellow
In January 2021, Pompeo joined the Hudson Institute as a distinguished fellow.
January 19, 2021: Pompeo announces genocide by China against Uyghurs
On January 19, 2021, Pompeo announced that the Department of State had determined that China was committing "genocide and crimes against humanity" against the Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.
January 20, 2021: China sanctions Pompeo
On January 20, 2021, China sanctioned Pompeo and several other Trump administration officials for "seriously violated China's sovereignty." The sanctions included a ban from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, and restrictions on doing business with China.
February 2021: Pompeo founds Champion American Values PAC
In February 2021, Pompeo founded the Champion American Values PAC (CAVPAC).
May 2021: US withdrawal timeline from Afghanistan
In early 2020, Pompeo touted the Trump administration's agreement with the Taliban that put the U.S. on a trajectory to leave Afghanistan by May 2021.
August 2021: Pompeo distances himself from Afghanistan situation post-withdrawal
In August 2021, Pompeo expressed support for the Biden administration's extension of the withdrawal timeline of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. However, he ultimately distanced himself and the Trump administration from the situation facing Afghanistan post-withdrawal, following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.
November 2021: Office of Special Counsel report concludes Pompeo violated Hatch Act
In November 2021, the Office of the Special Counsel released a report concluding that Pompeo was one of at least 13 senior Trump administration officials who violated the Hatch Act by speaking at the Republican National Convention in 2020. The office found that Pompeo knew of the Hatch Act's restrictions before giving the speech and had ignored advice from State Department personnel on "how to comply with the Hatch Act when delivering the speech."
2021: End of term as Secretary of State
In 2021, Mike Pompeo's tenure as the 70th United States Secretary of State came to an end.
2021: Regret over Lack of Progress on North Korea
In a 2021 interview with a conservative podcast, Mike Pompeo said that he regretted that they didn't make more progress on North Korea during Trump's summits with North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un.
February 2022: Praised Putin, then called him a dictator
In February 2022, right before Russia invaded Ukraine, Pompeo praised Vladimir Putin in an interview aired on Russian state television. Later that month, during a speech at CPAC, Pompeo called Putin a "dictator".
March 4, 2022: Pompeo calls for US recognition of Taiwan in speech
On March 4, 2022, Pompeo delivered a speech paid for by the Taiwanese government-affiliated think tank Prospect Foundation. In his speech, Pompeo called on the United States to recognize the Republic of China as an independent and sovereign country.
January 2023: Pompeo's memoir published
In January 2023, HarperCollins published Pompeo's memoir of his tenure in the Trump administration, "Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love".
April 2023: Pompeo announces he will not run for president in 2024
In April 2023, Pompeo announced his decision not to run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, despite considering a candidacy and touring early primary states.
October 2023: Pompeo joins Oberheiden, P.C. law firm
In October 2023, Pompeo became Of counsel for Texas-based law firm Oberheiden, P.C., a federal criminal defense law firm, joining former US Congressman Trey Gowdy and former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe.
2023: Pompeo features in documentary Route 60: The Biblical Highway
In 2023, Pompeo featured in the documentary "Route 60: The Biblical Highway", directed by Matt Crouch, alongside David M. Friedman.
2023: Pompeo joins Cyabra board of directors
In 2023, Pompeo joined the board of directors of Cyabra, an Israeli counter-disinformation company.
May 2024: Visited Taiwan for President Lai's inauguration
In May 2024, Pompeo returned to Taiwan as part of the American delegation to the inauguration of President William Lai, reiterating his support for official U.S. recognition of the country.
2024: Pompeo would not be appointed to Trump admin
After Trump's victory in the 2024 election, he declared that Mike Pompeo and Nikki Haley would not be appointed to positions in his next administration. According to The Wall Street Journal, Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump Jr. played a key role in blocking Pompeo's return.
2024: Pompeo's Book and Presidential Aspirations
In 2024, Pompeo's book, Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love, promoted his presumed candidacy in the 2024 Republican presidential primary and reiterated his view that the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi was of little international consequence, denigrating Khashoggi as an "activist" cozy with the Muslim Brotherhood.
2024: Trump declares Pompeo will not be back in next administration
In 2024, after Trump's victory in the 2024 election, Trump declared that Mike Pompeo would not be back in his next administration.
2024: Considering a run for 2024 Republican presidential nomination
Pompeo considered a candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and toured early primary states.
January 22, 2025: Pompeo's security detail revoked by President Trump
On January 22, 2025, President Trump revoked Pompeo's security detail.
February 2025: Pompeo hired by Columbia University as distinguished fellow
In February 2025, Pompeo was hired by Columbia University as a distinguished fellow at its Institute of Global Politics to teach a course on diplomacy, decision-making, and organizational leadership.
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