DIA Chief To Retire Early

Army Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, announced he will retire – a year before his term would end. Media reports provided varying reasons for Flynn’s early departure, ranging from bowing out voluntarily because of frustration with Washington bureaucracy and clashes with the Obama administration, to being sacked for taking a chaotic approach to his job. Nevertheless, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper had high praise for Flynn in making the announcement April 30. “Throughout his career, whether he was leading intelligence efforts on the battlefield or here at home, Mike earned a reputation as a dedicated visionary who pushed the intelligence enterprise to anticipate and prepare for the threat environment of the future,” Clapper said. “As DIA director, Mike has continued his steadfast commitment to ensuring IC professionals have the resources necessary to provide insightful intelligence to support warfighters and policymakers as they face our nation’s most challenging intelligence issues.”