MDA Leadership
Within the Department of Defense, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is responsible for managing, directing, and executing the Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program. The president and Congress rely on the MDA leadership to provide guidance to carry out the mission entrusted to them.
Organizational Chart
To learn how our leadership is organized, please view our current organizational chart. For operational security reasons, we include only the names of our Director, Deputy Director, and Executive Director.
Director's Biography
Please click below to view the biography of the current director of the Missile Defense Agency, Vice Admiral James D. Syring.
| Nov. 19, 2012 — present | Vice Adm. Syring |
Former Directors' Biographies
Please click on a name to view a biography of former directors of the Missile Defense Agency and its legacy organizations, the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) and the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO).
| Nov. 21, 2008 — Nov. 19, 2012 | Lt Gen Patrick J. O'Reilly, USA |
| July 2, 2004 — Nov. 21, 2008 | Lt Gen Henry A. Obering, USAF |
| June 14, 1999 — July 2, 2004 | Lt Gen Ronald T. Kadish, USAF |
| Aug. 1, 1996 — May 28, 1999 | Lt Gen Lester L. Lyles, USAF |
| Nov. 22, 1993 — May 31, 1996 | LTG Malcolm R. O'Neill, USA |
| July 10, 1990 — Jan. 20, 1993 | Ambassador Henry F. Cooper |
| Feb. 1, 1989 — June 30, 1990 | Lt Gen George L. Monahan, Jr., USAF |
| March 27, 1984 — Jan. 31, 1989 | Lt Gen James A. Abrahamson, USAF |