The Director of the United States Defense Intelligence Agency is a military officer who, upon nomination by the President of the United States and confirmation by the Senate, serves as the United States' highest-ranking military intelligence officer. As the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Director is the principal intelligence adviser to the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Director also reports to the Director of National Intelligence, via 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, the Director chairs the Military Intelligence Board, which coordinates activities of the entire defense intelligence community.

The office of DIA Director is rotated between three-star Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps officers generally every three years.^[1]

In a June 2017 Action Memo, a line of succession was established for the position of Director should the sitting Director become incapacitated by death, resignation, or inability to perform the functions and duties of the office. In descending order the following DIA officials serve in the line of succession:

1. Deputy Director
2. Chief of Staff
3. Director for Mission Services
4. Director for Operations
5. Director for Analysis
6. Director for Science and Technology^[2]