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Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency

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Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Seal of the Defense Intelligence Agency
since February 2, 2024
Defense Intelligence Agency
Reports toUnder Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
AppointerPresident of the United States
FormationOctober 1961
WebsiteDIA.mil

The Director of the United States Defense Intelligence Agency is a military officer who, upon nomination by the President of the United States and confirmation by the Senate, serves as the United States' highest-ranking military intelligence officer. As the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Director is the principal intelligence adviser to the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Director also reports to the Director of National Intelligence, via the civilian Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.

The Director is also the Commander of the Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, a subordinate command of United States Strategic Command. Additionally, the Director chairs the Military Intelligence Board, which coordinates activities of the entire defense intelligence community.

The office of DIA Director is rotated between three-star Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps officers generally every three years.[1]

Line of succession

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In a June 2017 Action Memo, a line of succession was established for the position of Director should the sitting Director become incapacitated by death, resignation, or inability to perform the functions and duties of the office. In descending order the following DIA officials serve in the line of succession:

  1. Deputy Director
  2. Chief of Staff
  3. Director for Mission Services
  4. Director for Operations
  5. Director for Analysis
  6. Director for Science and Technology[2]

List of DIA Directors

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No. Director Photo Term Duration Service President(s) served under
1 Lieutenant General
Joseph Carroll
October 1961 – September 1969 7 years, 11 months
U.S. Air Force
John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
2 Lieutenant General
Donald V. Bennett
September 1969 – August 1972 2 years, 11 months
U.S. Army
Richard Nixon
3 Vice Admiral
Vincent P. de Poix
August 1972 – September 1974 2 years, 1 month
U.S. Navy
Richard Nixon
Gerald Ford
4 Lieutenant General
Daniel O. Graham
September 1974 – December 1975 1 year, 3 months
U.S. Army
Gerald Ford
5 Lieutenant General
Samuel V. Wilson
May 1976 – August 1977 1 year, 3 months
U.S. Army
Gerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
6 Lieutenant General
Eugene F. Tighe
September 1977 – August 1981 3 years, 11 months
U.S. Air Force
Jimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
7 Lieutenant General
James A. Williams
September 1981 – September 1985 4 years
U.S. Army
Ronald Reagan
8 Lieutenant General
Leonard H. Perroots
October 1985 – December 1988 3 years, 2 months
U.S. Air Force
Ronald Reagan
9 Lieutenant General
Harry E. Soyster
December 1988 – September 1991 2 years, 9 months
U.S. Army
Ronald Reagan
George H. W. Bush
Dennis M. Nagy
Acting
September 1991 – November 1991 2 months
U.S. Senior
Executive Service
George H. W. Bush
10 Lieutenant General
James R. Clapper
November 1991 – August 1995 3 years, 9 months
U.S. Air Force
George H. W. Bush
Bill Clinton
11 Lieutenant General
Kenneth Minihan
August 1995 – February 1996 7 months
U.S. Air Force
Bill Clinton
12 Lieutenant General
Patrick M. Hughes
February 1996 – July 1999 3 years, 5 months
U.S. Army
Bill Clinton
13 Vice Admiral
Thomas R. Wilson
July 1999 – July 2002 3 years
U.S. Navy
Bill Clinton
George W. Bush
14 Vice Admiral
Lowell E. Jacoby
July 2002 – November 4, 2005 3 years, 4 months
U.S. Navy
George W. Bush
15 Lieutenant General
Michael D. Maples
November 4, 2005 – March 18, 2009 3 years, 4 months
U.S. Army
George W. Bush
Barack Obama
16 Lieutenant General
Ronald Burgess
March 18, 2009 – July 24, 2012 3 years, 4 months
U.S. Army
Barack Obama
17 Lieutenant General
Michael T. Flynn
July 24, 2012 – August 7, 2014 2 years, 1 month
U.S. Army
Barack Obama
David Shedd
Acting
August 7, 2014 – January 23, 2015 5 months
U.S. Senior
Executive Service
Barack Obama
18 Lieutenant General
Vincent R. Stewart
January 23, 2015 – October 3, 2017 2 years, 253 days
U.S. Marine Corps
Barack Obama
Donald Trump
19 Lieutenant General
Robert P. Ashley Jr.
October 3, 2017 – October 1, 2020 2 years, 364 days
U.S. Army
Donald Trump
20 Lieutenant General
Scott D. Berrier
October 1, 2020 – February 2, 2024 3 years, 124 days
U.S. Army
Donald Trump
Joe Biden
21 Lieutenant General
Jeffrey A. Kruse
February 2, 2024 - Present 50 days
U.S. Air Force
Joe Biden

References

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  1. ^ DIA Public Web Page, Leadership
  2. ^ White, Suzanne L. (June 30, 2017). Order of Succession for the Director, Defense Intelligence Agency (Report). U - 17-1232/ CE.
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