Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency

The Director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency is a three-star military officer and is the highest ranking intelligence officer in the Department of Defense. He is the primary military intelligence advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff and also answers to the Director of National Intelligence. The Director of DIA also commands the Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance which is subordinate to US Strategic Command. The Under-Secretary of Defense for Intelligence is the top Pentagon intelligence civilian and is the primary military intelligence advisor to the DNI in his capacity as Director of Defense Intelligence.

Directors of DIA

• 1st - Joseph Carroll, Lt. Gen., 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.

• 2nd - Donald V. Bennett, LTG, USA (September 1969 - August 1972)

The...
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