An official website of the United States government         Here's how you know         
**Official websites use .mil**
A **.mil** website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
**Secure .mil websites use HTTPS**
 A **lock (lock )** or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to main content (Press Enter).

Defense Intelligence AgencyCOMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE IN DEFENSE OF THE NATION

Search
Search

Search
                    - Facilities Operating Status
                    - Employee Resources

-  Home		 
-  About    -  FAQs             
  -  Organization      -  Locations             
    -  Missile and Space Intelligence Center             
    -  Joint Military Attache School             
    -  Joint Military Intelligence Training Center 
  -  Office of the Inspector General             
  -  Equal Opportunity & Diversity             
  -  Military Integration Office             
  -  History      -  DIA Museum             
    -  George Washington Letters             
    -  Directors of DIA             
    -  The Historians 
  -  Patriots Memorial             
  -  Sexual Assault Prevention and Response             
  -  Contact Us 
-  News & Features    -  Articles             
  -  Videos             
  -  DIA in the News             
  -  Threat Reports             
  -  Photo Gallery             
  -  No FEAR             
  -  Podcasts             
  -  DIA Comics 
-  Careers & Opportunities    -  Career Fields      -  Analysis             
    -  Counterintelligence             
    -  Finance & Acquisition             
    -  Human Intelligence             
    -  Human Services             
    -  Information Technology             
    -  Inspector General             
    -  Legal             
    -  Mission Management             
    -  Office Management & Infrastructure             
    -  Science & Technology             
    -  Security 
  -  Search Vacancies             
  -  Apply to DIA             
  -  Hiring Process             
  -  Internships             
  -  Veteran Programs 
-  Business    -  Contractor Personnel Security             
  -  SIA3             
  -  SITE III             
  -  Innovation             
  -  NeedipeDIA             
  -  Office of Small Business Programs             
  -  Small Business FAQs 

ABOUTHISTORYDIRECTORS

## VADM Vincent De Poix, USNAugust 1972 - September 1974

Vice Adm. Vincent de Poix continued the reorganization of the Agency begun by his predecessor, Lt. Gen. Donald Bennett. Streamlining the organization had become critical since severe cutbacks had taken a major toll on the Agency — DIA's workforce had been cut by one-third after the Vietnam War. By 1973, nearly all elements had been consolidated and realigned.

In September 1972, as relations between the United States and the Soviet Union warmed into a period of detente, the need for defense intelligence was greater than ever. Intelligence was an intrinsic component of military strength, and the United States needed to maintain a strong military if negotiations with communist nations were to be successful.

*"While some of his diplomatic and military decisions — such as how and when to end American involvement in Indochina — were controversial, nothing so undermined Americans' confidence in the executive as the Watergate break-in and the president's complicity in the cover-up."*

President Nixon met with much success in foreign affairs, but quite the reverse in domestic issues. While some of his diplomatic and military decisions — such as how and when to end American involvement in Indochina — were controversial, nothing so undermined Americans' confidence in the executive as the Watergate break-in and the president's complicity in the cover-up. As the Intelligence Community was tied into the executive branch, that distrust tainted the public's perception of the  community. Furthermore, many Americans believed that the Intelligence Community had engaged in improper and illegal actions abroad. This meant that De Poix faced the challenge of steering DIA through hostile waters.

The 1973 Arab-Israel War started on October 6, 1973. The massive attacks launched by Syria and Egypt caught Israel unprepared, and was seen as a major intelligence failure for the United States and Israel.

In the post-Watergate controversy surrounding American intelligence activities, DIA and its director answered detractors by remaining focused on providing quality products to national policymakers. The Agency's reputation grew as its products were increasingly perceived throughout the Government as valuable to the decision-making process. The Agency was able to do this even while suffering from a personnel shortage.

The Agency's analysts wrestled with numerous issues between summer 1972 and fall 1974. They studied Lebanon, China, the formation of Sri Lanka, and Salvador Allende's regime in Chile. The Agency also had analysts dedicated to the task of resolving Vietnam War POW/MIA issues. DIA faced the intelligence challenges associated with maintaining detente, establishing arms control agreements, and the Paris Peace Accords that ended the Vietnam War.

President Gerald Ford wanted continuity in foreign affairs, so he promised Congress in August 1974 that he would continue to try to improve relations with the Soviet Union and China. Defense intelligence would continue to play a role in informing U.S. policies and negotiations. DIA and De Poix had managed not only to maintain continuity of operations during these critical years, but also improve DIA's performance.

Link Disclaimer

Web Policy

No FEAR Act

DIA Inspector                                                General

OPM.gov

DIA Facility Status

Equal Opportunity & Diversity

Employee Resources

Web Policy & Security

Defense.gov

Intel.gov

FOIA

Contact Us

Open GOV

Site Map

Back to top

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil