The first female director of the CIA is a career spymaster who once ran a secret prison in Thailand and was involved in destroying videos of terror suspects being waterboarded.
Gina Haspel was in charge of the "black site" where accused terrorists Abu Zubayadah and Abd al Rahim al-Nashiri were waterboarded in 2002.
She helped carry out an order to destroy videos which led to a long investigation by the US Justice Department which ended with no charges being brought
Donald Trump has previously indicated his support for waterboarding terror suspects, a practice which was introduced by President George W Bush and ceased over a decade ago.
Ms Haspel was appointed deputy director of the CIA last year and her confirmation by the US Senate was controversial.
I asked Donald Trump what he would I trice that's "worse than waterboarding". He wouldn't say…#gopdebate
— nick allen (@nickallen789) February 7, 2016
She will also have to be confirmed by the Senate for her new role as director, which could prove even more difficult.
When she was made deputy director it led to speculation that Mr Trump may be considering a reintroduction of waterboarding.
Click Here: West Coast Eagles Guernsey
At the time a leaked draft of an executive order suggested the administration may investigate restarting CIA black sites abroad and review interrogation techniques for terror suspects.
A CIA spokesman denied Ms Haspel’s elevation to director signaled such developments, saying it was "simply about putting in place the best person for the job".
John Brennan, the former CIA Director, said: "She was involved in a very, very controversial programme and I know that the Senate confirmation process will look at that very closely, but Gina Haspel has a lot of integrity.
"She has tried to carry out her duties at the CIA to the best of her ability even when the CIA was asked to do some very difficult things in very challenging times."
‘You’re fired’: Who Donald Trump has sacked and who has resigned during his time as president
Ms Haspel joined the CIA in 1985 and was a foreign chief of station at CIA outposts, spending much of her career undercover.
The Thai prison was the agency’s first overseas detention facility and she oversaw interrogations which included Abu Zubaydah being waterboarded 83 times.
Video tapes of the interrogations were destroyed in 2005 under an order with her name on it.
CIA colleagues have described Haspel as "widely respected" within the agency.
In a statement, she said: "I am grateful to President Trump for the opportunity and humbled by his confidence in me."
Mr Trump said: "Gina by the way who I know very well, who I’ve worked with very closely will be the first woman director of the CIA. She’s an outstanding person who also I have gotten to know very well."