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 |