Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency Executive and Leadership Team

August, 2026

Leadership Overview

Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency has 10 executives leading key functions including personnel vetting, critical technology protection, counterintelligence, and financial oversight.

Committed to safeguarding the national security infrastructure, Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency executes rigorous vetting and protection protocols to secure the federal workforce and critical technology assets across the United States.

Leadership Roles at Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency

  • Chief Financial Officer - Zack Gaddy
  • Chief of Staff & Chief Financial Officer, Office of - Meredith Morefield
  • Chief, Financial Data - Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) - Irfaan Nooruddin
  • Chief of Staff - Ellen Ardrey
  • Acting Chief Technology Officer - Tom Holmes
  • Senior Staff Officer. Chief of Staff - Data Collection and Analysis - Stephen Schooley
  • Counterintelligence & Insider Threat Directorate Chief of Staff - Barbara Holston
  • Chief of Staff for Adjudications - Chakeia Ragin
  • Industrial Policy & Programs Chief of Staff - William Bernier
  • Security Training Chief of Staff - Sharon Ward
  • Zack Gaddy - Chief Financial Officer

    Zack Gaddy, the Chief Financial Officer at Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, oversees the fiscal health and budgetary planning for the entire organization. Gaddy manages the allocation of funds necessary to support the agency's massive scale, including the processing of approximately 2 million background investigations annually. The Chief Financial Officer directs financial reporting and compliance efforts to ensure that all federal resources are utilized with maximum transparency and efficiency. By aligning fiscal strategies with the agency's mission of protecting critical technology, Zack Gaddy secures the necessary capital for technological infrastructure and personnel training programs. This leadership role involves constant collaboration with other executive leaders to prioritize investments in security capabilities. Through rigorous financial oversight, the Chief Financial Officer maintains the stability required to support over 100 federal entities and 10,000 cleared companies, directly impacting the agency's ability to fulfill its national security mandate.
    Zack Gaddy

    Meredith Morefield - Chief of Staff & Chief Financial Officer, Office of

    Meredith Morefield, the Chief of Staff & Chief Financial Officer, Office of at Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, manages the dual responsibilities of operational coordination and fiscal management within the office. Morefield directs the administrative functions that support the agency's core missions of personnel vetting and critical technology protection. By overseeing the budgetary requirements for the office, the Chief of Staff & Chief Financial Officer, Office of ensures that resources are aligned with strategic security priorities. This leadership role involves managing the flow of information and financial data to support executive decision-making. Meredith Morefield facilitates the integration of operational goals with fiscal constraints to maintain organizational efficiency. Through the precise management of office operations and financial assets, the Chief of Staff & Chief Financial Officer, Office of drives the agency's ability to provide consistent, high-quality support to federal entities and cleared companies.

    Irfaan Nooruddin - Chief, Financial Data - Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)

    Irfaan Nooruddin, the Chief, Financial Data - Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) at Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, manages the integrity and analysis of financial information across the agency. Nooruddin directs the data systems that track the costs associated with conducting 2 million background investigations annually. By overseeing the reporting of financial metrics, the Chief, Financial Data - Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) ensures that the agency maintains transparency and accountability in its fiscal operations. This leadership role involves collaborating with the broader OCFO team to provide data-driven insights that inform budgetary decisions. Irfaan Nooruddin facilitates the development of advanced reporting tools that enhance the agency's ability to monitor resource utilization. Through the precise management of financial data, the Chief, Financial Data - Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) supports the agency's mission to provide cost-effective security services to federal entities.

    Ellen Ardrey - Chief of Staff

    Ellen Ardrey, the Chief of Staff at Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, manages internal operations and coordinates cross-functional initiatives across the organization. Ardrey directs the alignment of administrative processes with the broader mission of protecting the federal workforce and critical technology assets. By streamlining communication between directorates, the Chief of Staff ensures that personnel vetting and counterintelligence efforts remain synchronized. This leadership role involves overseeing resource allocation and policy implementation to maintain operational efficiency across the agency. Ellen Ardrey facilitates high-level decision-making processes that support the agency's mandate to secure both physical and virtual workspaces. Through consistent oversight of organizational workflows, the Chief of Staff drives the strategic execution of agency-wide objectives, ensuring that all departments meet the rigorous standards required for national security operations and federal entity support.

    Tom Holmes - Acting Chief Technology Officer

    Tom Holmes, the Acting Chief Technology Officer at Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, architects the digital infrastructure required to protect the nation's trusted workspaces. Holmes directs the integration of advanced security technologies into the agency's personnel vetting and critical technology protection missions. By overseeing the modernization of IT systems, the Acting Chief Technology Officer ensures that the agency maintains a robust defense against evolving cyber threats. This leadership role involves managing the technical requirements for processing millions of background investigations while maintaining the integrity of sensitive data. Tom Holmes collaborates with internal stakeholders to implement scalable solutions that support the agency's vast network of federal entities and cleared companies. Through the deployment of secure, high-performance computing environments, the Acting Chief Technology Officer drives the technological innovation necessary to sustain the agency's operational superiority in both real and virtual environments.

    Stephen Schooley - Senior Staff Officer. Chief of Staff - Data Collection and Analysis

    Stephen Schooley, the Senior Staff Officer. Chief of Staff - Data Collection and Analysis at Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, manages the systematic gathering and interpretation of intelligence data. Schooley directs the analytical frameworks that support personnel vetting and insider threat detection across the federal government. By overseeing the data collection lifecycle, the Senior Staff Officer. Chief of Staff - Data Collection and Analysis ensures that decision-makers receive accurate, actionable insights regarding the security posture of the trusted workforce. This leadership role involves refining the methodologies used to process millions of background investigations annually. Stephen Schooley coordinates with technical teams to enhance the precision of data-driven security assessments. Through the rigorous application of analytical standards, the Senior Staff Officer. Chief of Staff - Data Collection and Analysis strengthens the agency's ability to identify and mitigate risks, ultimately protecting critical technology and national security interests.

    Barbara Holston - Counterintelligence & Insider Threat Directorate Chief of Staff

    Barbara Holston, the Counterintelligence & Insider Threat Directorate Chief of Staff at Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, manages the operational activities focused on identifying and neutralizing internal security risks. Holston directs the implementation of counterintelligence strategies designed to protect critical technology from unauthorized access or compromise. By overseeing the coordination between the directorate and other federal entities, the Counterintelligence & Insider Threat Directorate Chief of Staff ensures a unified approach to threat mitigation. This leadership role involves developing protocols that safeguard the trusted workforce against espionage and insider threats. Barbara Holston facilitates the integration of training and education programs that empower the agency to maintain a vigilant security posture. Through the consistent application of counterintelligence principles, the Counterintelligence & Insider Threat Directorate Chief of Staff drives the agency's mission to secure the nation's most sensitive assets and information systems.

    Chakeia Ragin - Chief of Staff for Adjudications

    Chakeia Ragin, the Chief of Staff for Adjudications at Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, manages the administrative and operational workflows within the personnel vetting adjudication process. Ragin directs the teams responsible for evaluating background investigation results to determine security clearance eligibility for the federal workforce. By overseeing the adjudication pipeline, the Chief of Staff for Adjudications ensures that the agency meets its mission-critical timelines for vetting millions of individuals. This leadership role involves coordinating with policy experts to maintain consistency and fairness in security determinations. Chakeia Ragin facilitates the implementation of process improvements that enhance the speed and accuracy of adjudication decisions. Through the effective management of personnel vetting resources, the Chief of Staff for Adjudications supports the agency's commitment to maintaining a trusted workforce, ensuring that only qualified individuals gain access to sensitive federal workspaces and critical technology.

    William Bernier - Industrial Policy & Programs Chief of Staff

    William Bernier, the Industrial Policy & Programs Chief of Staff at Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, manages the operational framework for overseeing the 10,000 cleared companies within the agency's portfolio. Bernier directs the implementation of industrial security policies that protect critical technology from foreign and domestic threats. By overseeing the coordination of programs designed to monitor cleared industry partners, the Industrial Policy & Programs Chief of Staff ensures compliance with federal security standards. This leadership role involves facilitating communication between the agency and private sector entities to strengthen the security of the supply chain. William Bernier coordinates the development of training and certification initiatives that empower industry partners to maintain secure workspaces. Through the rigorous application of industrial policy, the Industrial Policy & Programs Chief of Staff drives the agency's mission to protect the nation's technological edge against unauthorized exploitation.

    Sharon Ward - Security Training Chief of Staff

    Sharon Ward, the Security Training Chief of Staff at Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, manages the operational delivery of education and certification programs for the federal workforce. Ward directs the development of training curricula that address personnel vetting and critical technology protection requirements. By overseeing the coordination of training initiatives, the Security Training Chief of Staff ensures that personnel across the federal government possess the knowledge necessary to maintain secure workspaces. This leadership role involves managing the logistics of large-scale training deployments to support the agency's mission. Sharon Ward facilitates the alignment of educational content with evolving security threats and policy changes. Through the effective management of training resources, the Security Training Chief of Staff drives the agency's commitment to building a knowledgeable and vigilant workforce, ultimately strengthening the national security posture against both physical and virtual threats.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency?
    Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency is led by Zack Gaddy (Chief Financial Officer), along with executives such as Meredith Morefield (Chief of Staff & Chief Financial Officer, Office of) and Irfaan Nooruddin (Chief, Financial Data - Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)).
    Who is part of Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency’s executive team?
    The executive team of Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency includes leaders such as Zack Gaddy (Chief Financial Officer), Meredith Morefield (Chief of Staff & Chief Financial Officer, Office of), Irfaan Nooruddin (Chief, Financial Data - Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency have?
    Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency has 10 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency includes roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Chief of Staff & Chief Financial Officer, Office of, Chief, Financial Data - Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), Chief of Staff, Acting Chief Technology Officer.