NEWS

DIA Marks 50 Years

DIA commemorated 50 years of service in defense of the nation as Director LTG Ronald Burgess Jr. welcomed Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper to the DIAC for a ceremony Sept. 29.

"Though the challenges and threats have evolved since 1961, as has the agency, DIA's mission has remained clear, focused and consistent: to provide the nation's best all-source defense intelligence and to prevent strategic surprise," LTG Burgess said. "And it has done so at all times with an unwavering commitment and fidelity to the values that our nation holds dear."

Established during the height of the Cold War, DIA has adapted to confront a broad array of new challenges and potential threats from the Cuban Missile Crisis to current global operations against transnational terrorism, the director explained. The agency's contributions today wouldn't have been possible without the foundational work of previous generations of employees.

The secretary of defense also recalled defining moments in DIA's history that have helped the agency emerge as a vital tool to keep America safe, confronting threats and challenges through critical human, signal and imagery intelligence. He discussed the attacks of 9/11 as the major turning point for the agency that caused a shift in focus for better integration in the fight against our adversaries.

"I've always respected the great work of DIA which has become a central part of the military and intelligence community's efforts around the world," he said. "We recognize the tireless efforts of the men and women of today's DIA — the quiet heroes and silent warriors who every day collect, distill and distribute the information that directs our warriors in the battlefield and helps them defeat our enemies."

Panetta witnessed DIA's efforts firsthand over the years. His first orders following intelligence school in the 1960s were for DIA. The Army quickly changed plans and sent him to work in the Army intelligence (G2) office in Fort Ord, California. Before becoming our nation's 23rd secretary of defense, Panetta also served as the director of the CIA.

"Whether forward deployed overseas to support warfighting operations, or from the desks here in the Washington area, the men and women of DIA stand more than ever at the center of our military's efforts worldwide," he said.

Clapper echoed the sentiments of the secretary of defense, recalling how he has seen DIA mature and blossom both as a national intelligence agency and a combat support agency throughout his years in the intelligence community. He served as the 10th director of DIA and was the first director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency before becoming the director of national intelligence.

During the ceremony, Panetta presented DIA with the Joint Meritorious Unit Award for superior and decisive intelligence support in meeting the challenges of developing global issues while transforming to address evolving worldwide threats. As symbols of longstanding and collaborative relationships with allies, the director was presented an Australian aboriginal musical instrument, the digeridoo, by the Australian Defence Intelligence Organization; a traditional western cedar paddle by Canadian Defence Intelligence; and a framed picture of the Old War Office on behalf of the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence.

Today, DIA works in Iraq and Afghanistan to provide essential tools and intelligence necessary to battle insurgencies and locate high-value targets, while also monitoring emerging worldwide threats. For this dedication, Panetta said, "A grateful nation is safer and more secure thanks to your tireless efforts."

In the director's closing remarks, he looked toward the agency's next 50 years of contributions and pointed to the challenges ahead. He recognized the thousands of DIA professionals around the globe forging our future in a highly complex and uncertain world. He also asked the agency to be "ever mindful that no matter our accomplishments, we carry a grave responsibility to prove ourselves worthy of the public's trust every day."

The defense leaders made clear that DIA's legacy is a solid foundation for the agency to call upon in years to come. Building on the traditions of the past 50 years, DIA is primed to meet new challenges in this ever-changing environment.

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DIA is the nation’s premier all-source military intelligence organization.

It provides the nation’s most authoritative assessments of foreign military intentions and capabilities. The agency’s four core competencies -- human intelligence, all-source analysis, counterintelligence and technical intelligence -- enable military operations while also informing policy-makers at the defense and national levels.

DIA’s mission is unique and no other agency matches its military expertise across such a broad range of intelligence disciplines.