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.
The office of DIA Director is rotated between three-star Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps officers generally every three years.DIA Public Web Page, Leadership
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:
Deputy Director Chief of Staff Director for Mission Services Director for Operations Director for Analysis Director for Science and Technology
List of DIA directors Director Photo Term Duration Service President(s) served under 1 Lieutenant GeneralJoseph Carroll October 1961 – September 1969 7 years, 11 months U.S. Air Force John F. KennedyLyndon B. Johnson 2 Lieutenant GeneralDonald V. Bennett September 1969 – August 1972 2 years, 11 months U.S. Army Richard Nixon 3 Vice AdmiralVincent P. de Poix August 1972 – September 1974 2 years, 1 month U.S. Navy Richard NixonGerald Ford 4 Lieutenant GeneralDaniel O. Graham September 1974 – December 1975 1 year, 3 months U.S. Army Gerald Ford 5 Lieutenant GeneralSamuel V. Wilson May 1976 – August 1977 1 year, 3 months U.S. Army Gerald FordJimmy Carter 6 Lieutenant GeneralEugene F. Tighe September 1977 – August 1981 3 years, 11 months U.S. Air Force Jimmy CarterRonald Reagan 7 Lieutenant GeneralJames A. Williams September 1981 – September 1985 4 years U.S. Army Ronald Reagan 8 Lieutenant GeneralLeonard H. Perroots October 1985 – December 1988 3 years, 2 months U.S. Air Force Ronald Reagan 9 Lieutenant GeneralHarry E. Soyster December 1988 – September 1991 2 years, 9 months U.S. Army Ronald ReaganGeorge H. W. Bush — Dennis M. NagyActing September 1991 – November 1991 2 months U.S. SeniorExecutive Service George H. W. Bush 10 Lieutenant GeneralJames R. Clapper November 1991 – August 1995 3 years, 9 months U.S. Air Force George H. W. BushBill Clinton 11 Lieutenant GeneralKenneth Minihan August 1995 – February 16, 1996 7 months U.S. Air Force Bill Clinton 12 Lieutenant GeneralPatrick M. Hughes February 16, 1996 – July 27, 1999 3 years, 5 months U.S. Army Bill Clinton 13 Vice AdmiralThomas R. Wilson July 27, 1999 – July 2002 3 years U.S. Navy Bill ClintonGeorge W. Bush 14 Vice AdmiralLowell E. Jacoby July 2002 – November 4, 2005 3 years, 4 months U.S. Navy George W. Bush 15 Lieutenant GeneralMichael D. Maples November 4, 2005 – March 18, 2009 3 years, 4 months U.S. Army George W. BushBarack Obama 16 Lieutenant GeneralRonald Burgess March 18, 2009 – July 24, 2012 3 years, 4 months U.S. Army Barack Obama 17 Lieutenant GeneralMichael T. Flynn July 24, 2012 – August 7, 2014 2 years, 2 weeks U.S. Army Barack Obama — David SheddActing August 7, 2014 – January 23, 2015 5 months U.S. SeniorExecutive Service Barack Obama 18 Lieutenant GeneralVincent R. Stewart January 23, 2015 – October 3, 2017 U.S. Marine Corps Barack ObamaDonald Trump 19 Lieutenant GeneralRobert P. Ashley Jr. October 3, 2017 – October 1, 2020 U.S. Army Donald Trump 20 Lieutenant GeneralScott D. Berrier October 1, 2020 – February 2, 2024 U.S. Army Donald TrumpJoe Biden 21 Lieutenant GeneralJeffrey A. Kruse February 2, 2024 – August 22, 2025 U.S. Air Force Joe BidenDonald Trump — Major GeneralConstantin E. Nicolet August 22, 2025 – February 13, 2026 U.S. Army Donald Trump 22 Lieutenant GeneralJames H. Adams III February 13, 2026 – present U.S. Marine Corps Donald Trump
References
External links DIA Web Site