Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency

Last updated
Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) seal (vector).svg
Seal of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Lt Gen Jeffrey A. Kruse (2).jpg
Incumbent
Jeffrey A. Kruse
since February 2, 2024
Defense Intelligence Agency
Reports to Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
Appointer President of the United States
FormationOctober 1961
Website DIA.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, Additionally, the director chairs the Military Intelligence Board, which coordinates activities of the entire defense intelligence community.

Contents

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

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

No.DirectorPhotoTermDurationServicePresident(s) served under
1 Carroll jf1.jpg Lieutenant General
Joseph Carroll
October 1961 – September 19697 years, 11 months U.S. Air Force service mark.svg
U.S. Air Force
John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
2 Donald Vivian Bennett.jpg Lieutenant General
Donald V. Bennett
September 1969 – August 19722 years, 11 months Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
Richard Nixon
3 Vadm depoix.jpg Vice Admiral
Vincent P. de Poix
August 1972 – September 19742 years, 1 month Emblem of the United States Navy.svg
U.S. Navy
Richard Nixon
Gerald Ford
4 Ltg graham.jpg Lieutenant General
Daniel O. Graham
September 1974 – December 19751 year, 3 months Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
Gerald Ford
5 LTG Samuel V. Wilson, Director of the DIA.jpg Lieutenant General
Samuel V. Wilson
May 1976 – August 19771 year, 3 months Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
Gerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
6 Ltg tighe.jpg Lieutenant General
Eugene F. Tighe
September 1977 – August 19813 years, 11 months U.S. Air Force service mark.svg
U.S. Air Force
Jimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
7 James A Williams.jpg Lieutenant General
James A. Williams
September 1981 – September 19854 years Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
Ronald Reagan
8 Ltg perroots.jpg Lieutenant General
Leonard H. Perroots
October 1985 – December 19883 years, 2 months U.S. Air Force service mark.svg
U.S. Air Force
Ronald Reagan
9 Harry E Soyster.jpg Lieutenant General
Harry E. Soyster
December 1988 – September 19912 years, 9 months Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
Ronald Reagan
George H. W. Bush
Dennismnagy.jpg Dennis M. Nagy
Acting
September 1991 – November 19912 months SES Emblem.svg
U.S. Senior
Executive Service
George H. W. Bush
10 James R Clapper.jpg Lieutenant General
James R. Clapper
November 1991 – August 19953 years, 9 months U.S. Air Force service mark.svg
U.S. Air Force
George H. W. Bush
Bill Clinton
11 Lt Gen Kenneth A. Minihan, DIA Director.jpg Lieutenant General
Kenneth Minihan
August 1995 – February 16, 19967 months U.S. Air Force service mark.svg
U.S. Air Force
Bill Clinton
12 Patrick M Hughes.jpg Lieutenant General
Patrick M. Hughes
February 16, 1996 – July 27, 19993 years, 5 months Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
Bill Clinton
13 Vadm thomas r wilson.jpg Vice Admiral
Thomas R. Wilson
July 27, 1999 – July 20023 years Emblem of the United States Navy.svg
U.S. Navy
Bill Clinton
George W. Bush
14 RADM Lowell E. Jacoby, DN-SD-03-09298.jpg Vice Admiral
Lowell E. Jacoby
July 2002 – November 4, 20053 years, 4 months Emblem of the United States Navy.svg
U.S. Navy
George W. Bush
15 Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples.jpg Lieutenant General
Michael D. Maples
November 4, 2005 – March 18, 20093 years, 4 months Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
George W. Bush
Barack Obama
16 Burgess R.jpg Lieutenant General
Ronald Burgess
March 18, 2009 – July 24, 20123 years, 4 months Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
Barack Obama
17 Michael T Flynn.jpg Lieutenant General
Michael T. Flynn
July 24, 2012 – August 7, 20142 years, 2 weeks Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
Barack Obama
Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), David R. Shedd.JPG David Shedd
Acting
August 7, 2014 – January 23, 20155 months SES Emblem.svg
U.S. Senior
Executive Service
Barack Obama
18 Lieutenant General Vincent R. Stewart.JPG Lieutenant General
Vincent R. Stewart
January 23, 2015 – October 3, 20172 years, 253 days Emblem of the United States Marine Corps.svg
U.S. Marine Corps
Barack Obama
Donald Trump
19 Robert P. Ashley, Jr.jpg Lieutenant General
Robert P. Ashley Jr.
October 3, 2017 – October 1, 20202 years, 364 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
Donald Trump
20 LTG Scott D. Berrier (2).jpg Lieutenant General
Scott D. Berrier
October 1, 2020 – February 2, 20243 years, 124 days Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
Donald Trump
Joe Biden
21 Lt Gen Jeffrey A. Kruse (2).jpg Lieutenant General
Jeffrey A. Kruse
February 2, 2024 – present1 year, 199 days U.S. Air Force service mark.svg
U.S. Air Force
Joe Biden

References

  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.