Defense Intelligence Agency Director Army Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn presided over the retirement of Phillip R. Roberts after 32 years of distinguished federal service in an Oct. 25 ceremony at the agency’s headquarters facility in Washington, D.C.
Throughout his career and in assignments around the globe, Roberts provided exceptional leadership and strategic vision that has contributed significantly to safeguarding U.S. national security interests and strengthened our military intelligence capabilities.
Since 2010, Roberts served as the first Chief of DIA’s Field Support Activity at Rivanna Station in Charlottesville, and focal point for DIA interactions with the National Ground Intelligence Center and the greater Charlottesville community. Under Base Realignment and Closure 2005 legislation, DIA relocated more than 800 of its employees to support the agency’s military and counterproliferation analysis and scientific and technical collection efforts. In this assignment, Roberts also worked tirelessly to ensure that DIA was a good neighbor to the local community forging important relationships with Charlottesville area governments, charities and institutions.
Prior to his assignment in Charlottesville, he served three years as the DIA Chief of Staff ensuring timely satisfaction of the Agency’s current requirements while developing the strategies and process improvements for the future. His previous assignments also include a tour in London as Chief of DIA Liaison to the United Kingdom, DIA Vice Deputy Director for Analysis, Chief of the Operational Support Group in the Directorate for Intelligence and Chief of the Office for Counterproliferation Support.
On the occasion of Roberts’ retirement, U.S. Rep. Robert Hurt (R-VA) paid tribute to his accomplished career in the Oct. 23 statement for the congressional record, stating “Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful nation and my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives, I thank Phil Roberts and his family for his years of service to our country and wish him the very best in his retirement from the federal government.”
Roberts will remain in the Charlottesville area working for private industry.