James J. Kren
Deputy Director, Defense Security Service
Mr. James J. Kren was appointed as Deputy Director of the Defense Security Service (DSS) on September 11, 2011. He is a member of the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service.
The DSS mission is to support national security and the warfighter by securing the nation's technological base, and overseeing the protection of U.S. and foreign classified information in the hands of industry. DSS accomplishes this mission by: Clearing industrial facilities, personnel and associated information systems; collecting, analyzing and providing threat information to industry and government partners; managing foreign ownership, control and influence in cleared industry; providing advice and oversight to industry; delivering security education and training; and, providing information technology services that support the industrial security mission of DoD and its partner agencies.
As Deputy Director, Mr. Kren serves as the principal advisor and consultant to the Director of DSS. He formulates policy, manages agency resources, and leads operational activities to accomplish DSS’s mission. Mr. Kren is responsible for the Agency’s innovation efforts, ensuring future program viability and continuity.
Prior to his assignment to DSS, Mr. Kren served as the Director of Innovation and Collaboration, Intelligence Systems Support Office (ISSO), Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. The ISSO supports the initiatives and activities of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. During his tenure with ISSO, he was assigned to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Brussels, Belgium, first as special advisor to the Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment from 2006-2008 and then as General Manager of the Battlefield Information Collection and Exploitation Systems (BICES) Agency from 2008-2011. In that capacity, he directed the agency’s mission of enabling and enhancing multinational intelligence sharing and exchange.
In 1987, Mr. Kren began his career with the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA), later the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA). During his 13 years with DMA/NIMA, Mr. Kren held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility, to include systems engineer, physical scientist, cartographer and geographer. As a staff officer for the Systems and Technology Directorate, he supported the Tasking, Processing, Exploitation and Dissemination Assessment Process where he led the U.S. Imagery and Geospatial Information Service Operational Requirements Document development for NIMA. Later, he served as a staff officer and NIMA liaison to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Space.
He was the Deputy Director for the Cross Program Evaluation Directorate, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, supporting the assessment and evaluation of net-centric programs of the Defense Department and the Intelligence Community. From 2004-2006, he served as senior adviser for Strategies and Plans to the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Warfighting Support, Office of the Secretary of Defense. During this time, he led the Department of Defense Remodeling Defense Intelligence initiative, and oversaw the establishment of Joint Intelligence Operations Centers at the combatant commands and the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Mr. Kren holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in geography from the University of Missouri, and a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. He previously served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Mr. Kren is the recipient of the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award.
Current as of September 2011