Jeffrey A. Kruse is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general who served as the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency from 2 February 2024 to 22 August 2025. He served as the director of intelligence of the United States Indo-Pacific Command from July 2016 to July 2019, and was Director for Defense Intelligence (Warfighter Support) of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Intelligence) from July 2019 to August 2020.
In July 2020, Kruse was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and assignment as the director's advisor for military affairs of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, a new office in the agency. He assumed this position on 16 August 2020, and held it until January 2024.
Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency In June 2023, Kruse was appointed by President Joe Biden as the next director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. On 11 December 2023, Kruse’s appointment as the new director of the Defense Intelligence Agency was confirmed by the United States Senate. On 2 February 2024, Kruse officially assumed the position as Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.
On 18 March 2024, Kruse testified on Senate Intelligence community along with another head of United States Intelligence Community regarding the annual threat assessment. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth fired him in August 2025 after Kruse had suggested that U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities had been ineffective, and his report was leaked to the press.
Effective dates of promotions
+ Rank Date Second Lieutenant16 December 1990 First Lieutenant16 December 1992 Captain16 December 1994 Major1 January 2002 Lieutenant Colonel1 May 2005 Colonel1 October 2008 Brigadier General8 June 2015 Major General24 July 2018 Lieutenant General16 August 2020
References