Employee Spotlight: Gustav
 
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DIA Officer Gustav Otto

Gustav said it best: “From offices in the White House to the Pentagon, to foreign seats of power, to mud huts and dangerous ravines in war-ravaged lands, I’ve had amazing adventures and they continue to this day.” Below, learn more about his incredible DIA journey.

Q&A WITH GUSTAV

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Otto with U.S. flag (Photo courtesy of Gustav Otto.)

Q1: How long have you worked for DIA and what do you do in your current role?

I joined DIA in March 1998 as a young Air Force captain. I was assigned as a counterintelligence officer — an experiment of the Air Force placing an intelligence officer into a CI role for the first time since the end of the Vietnam War. I built upon my experiences working on the Khobar Towers investigation, which opened my eyes even more to the world of intelligence and national security. After two assignments, extended temporary duty assignments (away from my permanent worksite) and a few deployments during the Balkan Wars, I returned to the Air Force. Following 9/11, the U.S. turned to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. DIA convinced the Air Force to let me return and complete a seventh deployment, this time to Kandahar, (Afghanistan), from 2003 to 2004. During that time, DIA offered me a civilian job I couldn’t refuse, leading the nation’s premier hard-target program. I’ve been a DIA civilian ever since. Overall, I’ve been with DIA for 26 years, in and out of uniform.

I currently serve as the DIA liaison to Ottawa or DIAL-O. It is a diplomatic assignment, representing the best of America to our oldest allies, neighbors and often family members in Ottawa, Canada. Our team of defense intelligence experts represents DIA, the Defense Intelligence Enterprise and the U.S. Intelligence Community to Canada from its capital in Ottawa, Ontario, in coordination with the senior defense official/defense attaché. In this capacity, the DIAL-O team showcases how the IC works together to protect the American people and U.S. interests around the globe, leveraging a full complement of intelligence. In other words, how intelligence drives national security decision-making. Our DIAL-O team is proud to partner with Canadians along this journey toward shared security and national defense.

Q2: What keeps you at DIA?

That’s easy — our people and our mission. We have an incredible workforce devoted to the U.S. Constitution and service to the nation. Sure, you can find our (Agency’s) vision and mission online. To me, it is about understanding the world, emerging threats and the opportunities the U.S. and its allies must seize to continue to advance democracy and liberty. At the personal level, these grand ideals translate to my colleagues across DIA and the IC — we are a community. Whenever I return to DIA Headquarters, my transit through the lobby is filled with handshakes, smiles and hugs. My son calls some of my colleagues “aunt” or “uncle.” Some have literally saved my life more than once over the years. I have colleagues missing limbs, suffering from lifelong mental and physical injury — yet (they are) devoted to doing the work to defend America. The average American citizen will never know about most of their work, and that’s how it should be.

Q3: What do you find most fulfilling about your job?

It is a combination of things. Foremost is my aspiration to be a servant-leader. I was already lucky to be a leader for 10 years before I was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force. During that time, I found immense pleasure watching people achieve their goals. I’ve devoted my life to being a good follower, a good person and to try to help others achieve (success). I’ve been lucky to have rewarding leadership opportunities nonstop since 1983. Every day, I get the chance to unleash others’ potential. Staying with DIA gives me an ongoing opportunity to learn from others, to refine my profession and my leadership qualities, to help those I work with and to serve the United States. The other fulfilling aspect of my years at DIA is change; precious few days are boring. From offices in the White House to the Pentagon, to foreign seats of power, to mud huts and dangerous ravines in war-ravaged lands, I’ve had amazing adventures and they continue to this day. Finally, I cherish the space and grace to grow, fail and learn at DIA. I’m far from perfect. DIA has granted me mercy, support and the time to hone my leadership skills and intelligence. I wake up most days excited to go to work.

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Otto on deployment in Afghanistan (Photo courtesy of Gustav Otto.)

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Photo of Gustav and his father (Photo courtesy of Gustav Otto, DoD photo illustration by K. Jackson.) (This image was cropped to emphasize the subjects.)

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(Photo courtesy of Gustav Otto.)

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(Photo courtesy of Gustav Otto.)

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Otto in his regalia (Photo courtesy of Gustav Otto.)

Q4: What would people be surprised to know about your career path, or what it’s like to work for a combat support agency/the U.S. intelligence community?

I can answer both in the same way. Twice I thought I left DIA, several times I planned on leaving the Department of Defense and three times I thought I’d left the Directorate of Operations. Was I ever wrong. A crisis, a trusted friend or a challenging opportunity kept turning up. When I returned to DIA for my last military deployment, it was unexpected. While deployed on this mission to Afghanistan, DIA asked me to return as a civilian. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the face of American counterintelligence. Years later, a famous four-star general asked me to come back to Afghanistan — I was shocked. When a different four-star told me I never had to wear a necktie again, I laughed. I still try not to wear neckties — it doesn’t change how I think or behave. When I was asked to represent DIA to North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, I was elated. I’ve met and advised presidents, kings and prime ministers. I’ve served combatant commanders and military service chiefs. I’m not as smart or as special as any single colleague or friend I have at DIA. Instead, I was lucky. I had some people who trusted me to do the right thing and I had some great champions along the way. What’s it like? Most days at DIA are pretty cool and, looking back, even dreamy despite the occasional nightmare.

Q5: How do you really know you’re making a difference?

This is the crux of my Otto Motto — “be a good example, help the people and make the world a better place.” The other day, I gave someone a ride home whom I’d never met at the office. What a cool person! I’ve saved a life or two; that’s something many Americans can’t say. Occasionally, I whispered a dream into the ears of someone and it sparked the fire of an idea. Neat, huh? When people tell me a story about when I helped them, when I made a difference in their lives, when I comforted or supported them, those are the warm feelings I hope to have when I leave this existence. Some of the differences we make are classified. The ones I care most about are the ones that made someone feel better and be better. I can’t count those in numbers or quality. That’s when I know I’m making a difference. I have much more to do and I hope you will join me.

“We live in turbulent times. Yet, I am confident that the Department, along with our counterparts throughout the U.S. Government and our Allies and partners around the world, is well positioned to meet the challenges of this decisive decade.”
-- U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III,,
2022 National Defense Strategy