Daniel Ray "Dan" Coats (born May 16, 1943) is an American politician. Coats is the 5th and current Director of National Intelligence serving since March 15, 2017. He served as United States Senator from Indiana from 1989 to 1999 and 2011 to 2017. He is a member of the U.S. Republican Party. He was in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 1989.