Previous DIA Directors

LTG Ronald L. Burgess, Jr., USA | March 2009 - July 2012

Lieutenant General Ronald L. Burgess, Jr., became Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in March 2009. Read more »

LTG Michael D. Maples, USA | November 2005 - March 2009

Lieutenant General Mike Maples became Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in November 2005. The Defense Intelligence Agency is a 7,500-person combat support agency with personnel deployed to more than 130 countries worldwide. Lieutenant General Maples also commands the Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance for the United States Strategic Command. Read more »

VADM Lowell E. Jacoby | Jul 2002 - Nov 2005

Vice Admiral Lowell E. Jacoby assumed the duties as the Director, Defense Intelligence Agency on 17 October 2002. He was commissioned in May 1969 from Aviation Officer Candidate School. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland and holds a Masters Degree in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School, completing all requirements for a sub-specialty in strategic planning. Read more »

VADM Thomas R. Wilson | July 1999 - July 2002

As Vice Admiral Wilson came on board the summer of 1999, DIA supported Joint Task Forces deploying over 100 DIA augmentees and providing more than 600 personnel to intelligence task forces, to an Allied military intelligence battalion in Bosnia, and to National Intelligence Support Teams in Riyadh, Tuzla and Sarajevo. Read more »

LTG Patrick M. Hughes, USA | February 1996 - July 1999

General Hughes faced critical challenges in the area of terrorism in his first year as Director. In the wake of a terrorist bombing of US barracks at Khobar Towers on 25 June 1996 that left 24 dead and 500 wounded, DIA re-examined its counter-terrorism capability. Former DIA Director, Lieutenant General James Clapper, USAF (Ret), was selected as participant on the Khobar Towers Bomb Blast Assessment Team. Read more »

LTG Kenneth A. Minihan, USAF | August 1995 - February 1996

General Minihan came to DIA in the midst of critical events in the Balkans. In the summer of 1995, the Croatian Army launched several successful offensives in the Krajina region, NATO launched air strikes against targets in Bosnian Serb territory, and Bosnian Serb forces overran Srebrenica, a UN declared "safe area." In the fall on 1995, the major players in the Yugoslav crisis agreed in Geneva on the basic principles for peace in Bosnia. Read more »

LTG James R. Clapper, Jr., USAF | November 1991 - August 1995

General Clapper came to DIA following the collapse of the Soviet Union as the predominant focus of US intelligence and in the aftermath of Operation DESERT STORM. DIA improved crisis management and support to the decision maker and warfighter based on the experience gained during the Gulf War. The end of the Cold War led to the most fundamental reexamination of US national security policy since the 1940s. Read more »

Dennis M. Nagy | September 1991 - November 1991 (Acting)

Mr. Dennis M. Nagy was appointed Acting Director for the interim period from September through November 1991, the only civilian to be so named. In this capacity he provided continuity during a critical time when decrements against Agency resources caused reconsideration of many managerial issues and review of traditional threat priorities throughout the Defense Intelligence Community. He served until Lieutenant General James R. Clapper, Jr. assumed the directorship in November 1991. Read more »

LTG Harry E. Soyster, USA | December 1988 - September 1991

Soon after his arrival at DIA, General Soyster directed the Defense intelligence effort in support of the successful US operation in Panama in 1989. This clearly demonstrated the benefits of increased cooperation and planning that had been achieved between DIA and operational force planners when compared to the 1983 Grenada incursion. Read more »

LTG Leonard H. Perroots, USAF | October 1985 - December 1988

Soon after General Perroots arrived at the Agency, Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger presented DIA with its first Joint Meritorious Unit Award for intelligence support during the TWA and ACHILLE LAURO hijackings, the Philippine crisis, and the counterterrorist operations against Libya. This award echoed the changing national security environment featuring the new threats of terrorism, global volatility, and low-intensity conflict. Read more »

LTG James A. Williams, USA | September 1981 - September 1985

General Williams focused the Agency on enhancing support to tactical and theater commanders, improving capabilities to meet major wartime intelligence requirements, and strengthening indications and warning assets. In December 1981, President Reagan signed Executive Order 12333 giving the Intelligence Community a mandate for the years ahead. Read more »

LTG Eugene F. Tighe, Jr. | September 1977 - August 1981

In 1978, the Deputy Secretary of Defense observed that, "The DIA has made laudable progress in improving the quality of its intelligence products and in focusing more sharply on the needs and concerns of its consumers. I am prepared now to support several additional steps which I believe will enhance the Agency's analysis and intelligence community standing." This resulted in a major reorganization of DIA, completed under the stewardship of General Tighe in August 1979, which established a basic infrastructure that lasted nearly a decade. Read more »

LTG Samuel V. Wilson, USA | May 1976 - August 1977

General Wilson, who began his tenure as the Director, DIA in May 1976, completely reorganized the Defense Intelligence Agency. He assured the J-2's of the U&S Commands and the Services, however, of his "commitment to the pursuit of excellence within DIA, particularly in support of the operating forces." He pledged that one of his major goals as Director would be to stress "the importance of military operational intelligence requirements." Read more »

LTG Daniel O. Graham, USA | September 1974 - December 1975

In October 1974, General Graham began a comprehensive overhaul of DIA production functions, organization, and management. The end of the Vietnam War produced many refugees and heightened concern for American POW/MIAs. Intense Congressional review during 1975-76 created turbulence in the national Intelligence Community. Amid these issues, massive resource decrements were faced by DIA and the entire Defense intelligence community. Read more »

VADM Vincent P. De Poix, USN | August 1972 - September 1974

Admiral de Poix continued the reorganization of the Agency begun by his predecessor, General Bennett. Streamlining the organization had become critical since severe manpower cutbacks had taken a major toll on the Agency. DIA manpower had been cut by one third after Vietnam. By 1973, nearly all elements had been consolidated and realigned. Read more »

LTG Donald V. Bennett, USA | September 1969 - August 1972

The year 1969 began with the inauguration of a new President, Richard M. Nixon. That change in the nation's chief executive was echoed by a change in DIA's directorship later that year. With General Bennett's assumption of command, there was a change in the style but not substance of the organization's leadership: in other words, DIA had another strong, dedicated director to lead it through some very challenging times. Bennett's tenure witnessed transformations both within and without the Agency. The former was marked by administrative reorganization and analytical refocusing; the latter by shifting alliances and policies in foreign and military affairs. Read more »

LTG Joseph F. Carroll, USAF | October 1961 - September 1969

As the first director of DIA, General Carroll faced the profound challenge of creating a new centralized intelligence organization in the face of the Military Services' opposition and at a time of increased Cold War tensions. General Carroll not only initiated DIA operations, he established precedents and procedures that would allow it to carry out its mission: to produce and manage foreign military intelligence for the Department of Defense. Such support was essential at a time when the United States was still solidifying its superpower status and facing ideological challenges as well as threats to national security. Read more »