Since its establishment in 1937, the National Cancer Institute has had 17 directors.
| Name | Entered Office | Departed Office |
|---|---|---|
| W. Kimryn Rathmell | December 18, 2023 | January 20, 2025 |
| Monica M. Bertagnolli | October 3, 2022 | November 9, 2023 |
| Norman E. Sharpless | October 17, 2017 | April 30, 2022 |
|
Harold E. Varmus |
July 12, 2010 |
March 31, 2015 |
|
John E. Niederhuber |
September 15, 2006 |
July 12, 2010 |
|
Andrew C. von Eschenbach |
January 22, 2002 |
June 10, 2006 |
|
Richard D. Klausner |
August 1, 1995 |
September 30, 2001 |
|
Samuel Broder |
December 22, 1988 |
April 1, 1995 |
|
Vincent T. DeVita, Jr. |
July 9, 1980 |
September 1, 1988 |
|
Arthur Canfield Upton |
July 29, 1977 |
December 31, 1980 |
|
Frank Joseph Rauscher, Jr. |
May 5, 1972 |
November 1, 1976 |
|
Carl Gwin Baker |
July 13, 1970 |
May 5, 1972 |
|
Kenneth Millo Endicott |
July 1, 1960 |
November 10, 1969 |
|
John Roderick Heller |
May 15, 1948 |
July 1, 1960 |
|
Leonard Andrew Scheele |
July 1, 1947 |
April 6, 1948 |
|
Roscoe Roy Spencer |
August 1, 1943 |
July 1, 1947 |
|
Carl Voegtlin |
January 13, 1938 |
July 31, 1943 |