Pollett takes over at DISA

At a ceremony at Fort Meyer, Va., on Dec. 17, Army Lt. Gen. Carroll F. Pollett became director of the Defense Information Systems Agency and commander of the Joint Task Force-Global Network Operations.

In his new role, Pollet will direct DISA in its mission to provide real-time information technology and communications support to the president, vice president, secretary of defense, the military services and the Defense Department's combatant commands. As commander of JTF-GNO, Pollett will serve as DOD's chief network warrior, leading the operation of DOD networks worldwide for the U.S. Strategic Command.

Pollett joins DISA from STRATCOM, where he most recently served as chief of staff under Gen. Kevin Chilton. His assumption of the directorship of DISA marks a return to the agency, where he served as the principal director for operations and commander of global operations with DISA's Global Information Grid Operations Directorate from August 2001 to February 2003.

Navy Rear Adm. Elizabeth Hight, who has served as acting DISA director since the retirement in July of Air Force Lt. General Charles Croom, will remain at DISA as vice director.

Key issues facing Pollett include the relocation of both DISA and JTF-GNO to Fort Meade under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, and retention of the civilian workforce of the agency, currently based in Arlington, Va. He will also take up responsibility for a broad range of major IT development and procurement programs, including DISA's Net-Enabled Command and Control (NECC) and Network Centric Enterprise Services (NCES).

Over the course of his 33-year career with the Army, Lt. Gen. Pollett has commanded the U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Signal Command at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., and the 5th Signal Command. He has also served in senior leadership positions with the U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army in Germany, and is a veteran of combat operations in Operations Desert Storm and Just Cause. His decorations and awards include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and seven awards of the Meritorious Service Medal. He also wears the Master Parachutist's Badge.