Ellen Ardrey

Ellen M. Ardrey is the Chief of Staff of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), serving on a detail from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).

In this capacity, Ms. Ardrey exercises leadership by managing, directing, and coordinating day-to-day operations of the Agency. She is responsible for interpreting and implementing higher level policies and regulations that directly shape and improve DCSA operations and customer interaction throughout the Agency. As an advisor to Director, Deputy Director and senior staff, she provides advice and assistance on a variety of matters which are typically complex, technical, sensitive, multifunctional and broad in scope and impact. 

Prior to this detail, Ms. Ardrey served as the Director, NGA Counter-Insider Threat Office after returning from a joint duty rotation where she served as the DCSA Deputy Chief Operating Officer and helped lead the Agency establishment.

Ms. Ardrey began her career as an Air Force Intelligence Officer, serving in positions at the Squadron, Group, and Major Command levels, as well as at Headquarters, United States Air Force.

After a short period as a technical consultant and program manager for a private information technology firm, Ms. Ardrey returned to federal service in 2002, serving at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).

While at DIA, she held a number of executive roles in the areas of financial management, human capital, congressional relations, public affairs, and community management. During her time at DIA, Ms. Ardrey served on a joint duty assignment with the United States Department of the Navy as the Deputy Commander, Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI).

Moving to NGA in 2014, Ms. Ardrey served as the Chief Human Capital Officer (CHCO) and Director of Human Development, as well as the NGA’s first Associate Director of Support (ADS) where she was responsible for integrating agency human resources, training, medical services, logistics, facilities operations, personnel and physical security, counterintelligence, and counter-insider threat to deliver on NGA strategic objectives.

Ms. Ardrey is originally from Beaver, Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Duke University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree, and the University of Colorado where she earned a Masters of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Information Systems. She is also a Certified Defense Financial Manager and a Presidential Rank Award recipient.