Intel tech leaders shuffle places

The Pentagon’s intelligence shop isn’t in for as much upheaval as it might seem now that long time tech manager Kevin Meiners is scheduled to head over to the U.S. intelligence community’s Liberty Crossing headquarters in June.

Kevin Meiners. (Credit: USGIF)

Meiners will be replaced by his one time deputy, Jim Martin, who’s been working at the National Reconnaissance Office.

When Meiners arrives at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, he’ll have acquisition oversight of the intel community’s approximately $50 billion National Intelligence Program, a list of projects and technologies that includes the country’s constellations of spy satellites.

Meiners will replace Dawn Meyerriecks, the current assistant director of national intelligence for acquisition, technology and facilities. She’ll become CIA’s deputy science and technology director.

Martin’s return to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence brings some continuity, but Meiners’ departure is still a big deal for the staff.

Meiners started working for the Navy in 1984 as a civilian electrical engineer, and was the first manager of the service's P-3 special projects aircraft. This month marks his 10th anniversary at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. Meiners helps oversee the $20 billion Military Intelligence Program, which includes the tactical intel fusion systems operated by the services.

“Every DoD ISR program that’s out there passed through Kevin’s hands,” one intelligence expert said.

Meiners’ deputy under secretary role used to be called “portfolio manager,” but the position was recently renamed to deputy for intelligence strategies, programs and resources.