Eugene F . Tighe Lieutenant General Eugene Francis Tighe , Jr . ( June 19 , 1921 – January 29 , 1994 ) was director of the Defense Intelligence Agency , Washington , D . C . . Tighe was born in 1921 , in New Raymer , Colorado , and graduated from Manual Arts High School , Los Angeles , in 1939 . He graduated from Loyola Marymount University , Los Angeles , in 1949 as a distinguished graduate , with a bachelor of arts degree in history . The general also completed Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base , Alabama in 1966 , and received an honorary doctor of military science degree from Norwich University in Northfield , Vermont , in 1980 . In September 1942 Tighe enlisted in the U . S . Army and served at Fort Bliss , Texas ; Camp Cooke , California ; and in Australia . He graduated from the Artillery Officer Candidate School at Camp Columbia , Australia , in 1944 with a commission as a second lieutenant , and was assigned as an anti - aircraft adviser with the 43rd Bombardment Group , 5th Air Force . He served with the group in New Guinea , Netherlands East Indies , the Philippines and the Ryukyu Islands . In January 1946 he was released from active Army duty and accepted a Reserve commission in the U . S . Army Air Forces . Tighe entered active duty with the U . S . Air Force in August 1950 as an intelligence officer with the 78th Fighter - Interceptor Group at Hamilton Air Force Base , California . He then served successively from September 1951 to October 1955 as an intelligence officer : one year with the 8th Fighter - Bomber Group at Suwon Air Base , South Korea ; two years with the 436th Bombardment Squadron at Carswell Air Force Base , Texas ; and one year with the 7th Bombardment Group , also at Carswell . He served with the U . S . Air Forces in Europe at Wiesbaden - Schierstein , Germany , as operations officer for the 497th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron from October 1955 to August 1958 . Tighe was then assigned to the 544th Aerospace Reconnaissance Technical Wing at Offutt Air Force Base , Nebraska where he organized the Research Center of the wing in January 1960 , and remained as its chief until June 1965 . He attended the Air War College from August 1965 to June 1966 . Following graduation Tighe was assigned as director of targets , Headquarters 7th Air Force at Tan Son Nhut Air Base , Republic of Vietnam . He transferred to Headquarters U . S . Air Force , Washington , D . C . , in August 1967 , and served in the Directorate of Operations as special assistant in the Reconnaissance Division until July 1968 , and as chief of the Operations Review Division until October 1969 . In November 1969 he was assigned as deputy director of estimates , in January 1970 he was named director of estimates , and later served as director of intelligence applications in the Office of Assistant Chief of Staff , Intelligence . Tighe was deputy chief of staff , intelligence , Pacific Air Forces , Hickam Air Force Base , Hawaii , from August 1971 until April 1972 , when he became director for intelligence , Headquarters United States Pacific Command at Camp H . M . Smith , Hawaii . From September 1974 to August 1976 , he was deputy director of the Defense Intelligence Agency , and served as acting director from December 1975 to May 1976 . In November , 1975 , MG Tighe was promoted to LTG . Following his tour at DIA as Acting Deputy DIA , LTG Tighe was expected to retire , there being no posts available for a USAF LTG Intelligence Officer . At this , LTG Tighe requested to revert to MG so that he could become the deputy chief of staff for intelligence , Headquarters Strategic Air Command , a MG posting at Offutt Air Force Base in August 1976 , and served in that position until he was assigned as assistant chief of staff , intelligence , at Air Force headquarters in January 1977 . In June 1977 the president appointed Tighe director of the Defense Intelligence Agency . He assumed his duties in September 1977 . He was promoted ( again ) to lieutenant general Sept . 1 , 1977 , with date of rank Nov . 4 , 1975 . During July and August 1977 , he served as special assistant to the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency . Awards and decorations . His military decorations and awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster , Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters , Bronze Star , Meritorious Service Medal , Joint Service Commendation Medal , Air Force Commendation Medal and Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit ( Gugseon Medal ) . He retired from the Air Force on September 1 , 1981 and died on January 29 , 1994 . References . http : / / archive . is / 20121212014852 / http : / / www . af . mil / information / bios / bio _ print . asp ? bioID = 7393 & page = 1