A native of Bonham, Texas, Lieutenant General Michael D. Maples served as the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency beginning in November 2005. He is a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point and holds a master’s degree in organizational behavior from Pacific Lutheran University. His military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course, as well as schooling at the US Army Command and General Staff College and the National War College.

 

Maples’ military career began in 1971 when he was commissioned a second lieutenant of field artillery. His command assignments have included: commanding general of the US Army Field Artillery Center at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and chief of field artillery for the US Army; assistant division commander, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany; 41st Field Artillery Brigade, Babenhausen, Germany; 6th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery (MLRS) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Desert Shield/Desert Storm; and B Battery, 6th Battalion, 37th Field Artillery, 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea.

 

Maples served as director of operations, readiness and mobilization, and director of military support in the office of the deputy chief of staff for operations and plans at US Army headquarters. He also served as the deputy chief of staff for operations and intelligence for the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps and for the Kosovo Force, Operation Joint Guardian. Other assignments included assistant chief of staff, G3, V Corps, Heidelberg, Germany, and deputy chief of staff for operations for US Army Europe, Taszar, Hungary, Operation Joint Endeavor.

 

Prior to becoming director of DIA, Maples served as the vice director and director of management of the Joint Staff. In this capacity, he was the point man for the Joint Staff on detainee policy and operations, and he coordinated the testimony of Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, before the Sept. 11 commission.

 

In taking over DIA, Maples became the first non-career intelligence officer to lead the spy agency in decades. The decision did not sit well with some former DIA directors. Vice Adm. Thomas R. Wilson, who led the agency from 1999 to 2002, told the New York Times that he was “disappointed” in Maples’ selection. “Just because you put an operator in there doesn't mean he can solve all the problems associated with intelligence support to operators,” Wilson said. “It’s a very complicated business.”

Bush Selects General to Run Spy Agency (by Eric Schmitt, New York Times)