(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Washington May 01 - The director of the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn of the Army and his civilian deputy David R. Shedd will retire by early fall the agency said in an email to its employees on Wednesday.
The two men are stepping down at a time when the Defense Intelligence Agency is shifting its priorities from providing intelligence to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to working more closely with the C.I.A. to gather and distribute information on global issues like the proliferation of weapons and rising powers like China (The New York Times) reported.
The Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said that their retirements "have been planned for some time" and that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel "appreciates the service of these two dedicated and professional leaders." "I think that Flynn's efforts to move the organization into a role supporting combatant commanders was spot on and it is where DIA should be heading" a military historian and unpaid adviser to the DIA Fred Kagan said adding "I think that he was trying to introduce a lot of valuable innovation into the organization." Kirby said that Lt. Gen. Mary A. Legere the Army's top intelligence officer is considered a leading candidate to replace Flynn and she would be the first female DIA director if nominated and confirmed.
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