James Shappell

James Shappell serves as the Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) for Defense Insider Threat within the Counterintelligence and Insider Threat Directorate, also filling the role as the Director of the DOD Insider Threat Management and Analysis Center (DITMAC).  In this position, he serves as the senior advisor to the DCSA Director on insider threat and oversees all DOD-level operations, program management, and business/support of the DITMAC.

While at DCSA, Mr. Shappell also served as the DITMAC Deputy Director and the Chief of DITMAC Analysis and Mitigation.

Prior to joining DCSA, Mr. Shappell served as the Chief of Staff at the National Intelligence Council at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). He also served in multiple positions at the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM), including the Acting Assistant Chief of Staff (ACoS), G-2; creating, establishing, and leading the INSCOM Security Operations Center as its first director; the Deputy ACoS, G-2; and the Command Security Manager and Special Security Officer. He also served as a security specialist at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground.

Prior to his civilian career, Mr. Shappell served four years on active duty as an intelligence analyst, primarily supporting operations in the Republic of Korea.

Throughout his career Mr. Shappell earned a number of awards including the Army Commendation Medal and two Army Achievement medals for his service on active duty. He received the ODNI Exceptional Service Award, the Army Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, and two Army Achievement Medals for Civilian Service. Under his leadership, the DITMAC was awarded the National Counterintelligence and Security Center’s award for insider threat detection in 2023.

In addition to his professional experience, Mr. Shappell has a dual Master of Arts degree in Leadership and Management and Security Management and Administration from Webster University, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Mansfield University, and an Associates of Applied Science in Intelligence Operations from Cochise College. He completed the Wharton School’s Certificate in Leadership and Management and the Federal Executive Institute’s Leadership for Democratic Society, and received the Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute’s Insider Threat Program Manager Certificate.  He has achieved the DOD Certified Counter-Insider Threat Professional – Fundamental.