Robert Paul Ashley Jr. is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army who served as the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency from 2017 to 2020. He previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army G-2. He received a commission through ROTC as a 1984 graduate of Appalachian State University. He retired from active duty on October 1, 2020. He currently serves as Senior Advisor to the Chairman of Arcanum, a global strategic intelligence company. He is the son of a United States Air Force veteran of the Korean War who later lived in North Carolina and worked a sewing machine mechanic. Ashley is a commissioner on the Afghanistan War Commission.
Education Bachelor of Science degree in political science, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina. Master of Science degree in strategic intelligence management, National Intelligence University, Bethesda, Maryland. Master of Science degree in strategic studies, US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
Military career Operational deployments Intelligence Analyst, Allied Land Forces Southern Europe, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, İzmir, Turkey Secretary to the Joint Military Commission, Stabilization Force, Operation Joint Forge, Bosnia-Herzegovina Commander, Office of Military Support, Washington, D.C., Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Commander, 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade(Airborne), XVIII Airborne Corps Operation Iraqi Freedom Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, International Security Assistance Force and Director of Intelligence, United States Forces-Afghanistan
Dates of rank + Rank Date Second lieutenantMay 23, 1984 First lieutenantNovember 23, 1985 CaptainMay 1, 1988 MajorMay 1, 1995 Lieutenant colonelJune 1, 1999 ColonelMay 1, 2004 Brigadier generalJune 21, 2010 Major generalJanuary 3, 2013 Lieutenant generalMarch 2, 2016
Awards and decorations Basic Army Aircrew BadgeBasic Parachutist BadgeArmy Staff Identification BadgeDefense Intelligence Agency BadgeUnited States Special Operations Command Combat Service Identification BadgeUK Parachutist BadgeArmy Military Intelligence Corps Distinctive Unit Insignia7 Overseas Service Bars Army Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf clusterDefense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clustersLegion of Merit with oak leaf clusterBronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clustersDefense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf clusterMeritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clustersJoint Service Commendation MedalArmy Commendation Medal with oak leaf clusterJoint Service Achievement Medal with oak leaf clusterArmy Achievement Medal with oak leaf clusterJoint Meritorious Unit Award with two bronze oak leaf clustersArmy Meritorious Unit CommendationArmy Superior Unit Award with oak leaf clusterNational Defense Service Medal with one bronze service starArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalAfghanistan Campaign Medal with four service starsIraq Campaign Medal with two service starsGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalKorea Defense Service MedalMilitary Outstanding Volunteer Service MedalArmy Service RibbonArmy Overseas Service RibbonNATO Medal for the former YugoslaviaOrder of the Rising Sun (Japan), 2nd Class, Gold and Silver Star
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