Washington: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has selected former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to be the director of national intelligence (DNI), highlighting her military experience and dedication to the nation. Trump stated that Gabbard, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, will infuse the intelligence community with her "fearless" spirit. According to Yonhap News Agency, Gabbard has a distinguished military background, having served in the U.S. Army Reserve for more than 20 years with three deployments to conflict zones in the Middle East and Africa. Trump expressed his enthusiasm for her appointment, emphasizing her commitment to defending the freedoms of all Americans and her readiness to lead with a strong, resolute spirit. Gabbard represented Hawaii in the House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021. She chose not to seek reelection to Congress in 2020, opting instead to run for president as a Democrat. In 2022, she announced her departure from the Democratic Party to become an independent, a nd subsequently joined the Republican Party in October of this year. The appointment follows Trump's announcement on Tuesday of former DNI John Ratcliffe as his nominee to head the Central Intelligence Agency.