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QUANTICO, Va. — Joseph M. Tonon, Ph.D., has been selected to serve as the next director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, according to an announcement by the Under Secretary of War for Intelligence and Security, The Honorable Bradley Hansell.
As director, Tonon will lead the agency responsible for identifying and managing security risks across the federal government and the defense industrial base. His portfolio will include oversight of personnel vetting and industrial security for critical government elements and for companies and facilities participating in the National Industrial Security Program, which spans more than 10,000 companies and 12,500 facilities. The agency also conducts security training and provides counterintelligence support across these missions.
A central focus of his tenure will be guiding the continued rollout of the National Background Investigation Services, the information technology platform underpinning the federal government’s Trusted Workforce 2.0 personnel vetting reforms.
Tonon most recently worked on Amazon Web Services’ Global Defense team. His prior government roles include serving as Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict and as Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, advising on technical and programmatic issues.
While on the Secretary of the Navy’s staff, he led efforts to stem the loss of critical data and technology from the Department of the Navy and the defense industrial base, later broadening that initiative into the Protecting Critical Technology Task Force at the direction of department leadership.
His awards and decorations include the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Civilian Service, the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal. Tonon holds a doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester.
