Joshua Simmons

Joshua Bradford Simmons is an American attorney general who serves as General Counsel for the Central Intelligence Agency.

Early life and education Simmons was born in 1982 in Abingdon, Virginia. Simmons received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina and earned his JD at the University of Virginia.

Career Simmons practiced law in major firms including Wiley Rein, Covington & Burling, and Three Crowns. Simmons also worked in the State Department's Office of the Legal Advisor.

In September 2025, President Donald Trump nominated Simmons to serve as General Counsel for the Central Intelligence Agency. Prior to Simmons assuming the role, Michael Ellis had been acting as both the Deputy Director and General Counsel of the CIA.

Simmons has also authored Christian young adult novels.