John Pistolessi

Mr. Pistolessi assumed his current position in September 2025. In this role, he provides strategic leadership for DIA's acquisition activities. He is the top DIA acquisition executive for all matters pertaining to acquisition, program management and contracting. Responsibilities include planning, managing, directing and accomplishing the total DIA acquisition program. Additionally, he is the Deputy Finance and Acquisition {F&A) Career Field Manager.

Mr. Pistolessi was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and raised in Springfield, Virginia. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program. He continued his education, earning an MS in Engineering Management from Western New England Colle'ge, an MS in National Resource Strategy from The Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and an MBA from the Smith School of Business, University of Maryland. He is Level Ill DAWIA certified in Program Management and holds the PMP credential.

Mr Pistolessi previously served as the Chief of Business Operations and,Goverl)ance for the Chief Information Office {CID), where he was responsible for management and execution of all CIC financial resources, contracts, and business. He provided financial, technical, and program management direction, guidance and advice on the strategic direction of CID resource execution.

Mr. PistoJe-ssi also served as the Program Executive Officer for IT Acquisition, where he was responsible for overseeing acquisition of systems, programs, and capabilities to enhance modernization efforts in support of stakeholders, executive decision makers, and the acquisition workforce within CID. He has also served as the Chief of the Supply Chain Risk Management Program Office, where he led a cross-agency team of acquisition, industrial security, and cyber security experts to identify, assess, and mitigate risks to critical mission systems from supply chain exploitation.

Before joining DIA, Mr. Pistolessi served a 22-year career in the U.S. Air Force. As a career acquisition officer, he held numerous program management positions in the areas of Intelligence Training Systems, the F-22 System Program Office, cind Spacelift Range Modernization. He finished his career as a test manager at the Missile Defense Agency.

He lives in Ellicott City, Maryland with his wife, Katherine. They have four children: Allison, Daniel, Laura, and Leanna.