Appointer The President Website DIA.mil | Formation October 1961 | |
 | ||
Reports to Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence | ||
The Director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency is a three-star general or admiral who, upon nomination by the President and confirmation by the Senate, serves as the nation's highest-ranking military intelligence officer. He is the primary intelligence adviser to the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and also answers to the Director of National Intelligence through the civilian Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. The Director is also the Commander of the Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, a subordinate command of United States Strategic Command. Additionally, he chairs the Military Intelligence Board, which coordinates activities of the entire defense intelligence community.
List of DIA Directors
All but two directors were active members of the military. Nagy served briefly in the USAF before joining the DIA. Shedd never served in the military.