Mary A. Legere

Military career

Legere attended the University of New Hampshire, receiving a bachelor's degree in political science in 1982. She was commissioned through UNH's Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program, and subsequently joined the Army's Military Intelligence Corps. She says that she originally intended to serve four years, and then find work in the United States Intelligence Community or the Foreign Service. Her subsequent military education includes the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the United States Army War College, where she received master's degrees in Military Science and Strategy, respectively.

Legere rose up through the ranks, serving in a number of intelligence command positions. From 2002 to 2004, she was the Commander of the 501st Military Intelligence Brigade. From 2008 to 2009, then-Brigadier General Legere served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence of the Multi-National Force – Iraq. From 2009 to 2012, then-Major General Legere served as the Commander of the United States Army Intelligence and Security Command (the Army's contribution to the United States Intelligence Community).

On April 12, 2012, Legere was promoted to Lieutenant General and became the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (G-2) of the United States Army.

As of May 2014, Legere was reportedly the top contender to head the Defense Intelligence Agency, the main spy organization for the U.S. military. If nominated and confirmed, she would have been the first woman to head the agency. She did not, however, receive the position.