Episode 55 - Bob Ashley, LTG, USA (Ret.): Intelligence, Warfighting, and Developing the Next Generation of Leaders
In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, I sit down with Bob Ashley, LTG, USA (Ret.), former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and one of the U.S. military’s most experienced intelligence leaders. Over a 36-year Army career, Bob served across tactical, operational, and strategic levels of intelligence, including multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, culminating in his role leading the Defense Intelligence Agency and advising senior defense leaders on global security threats.
Our conversation traces Bob’s journey into military service and the experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy. He reflects on how intelligence requirements evolved across two decades of conflict, the role intelligence played in campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, and what many people outside the intelligence community misunderstand about how intelligence actually works.
We also discuss how the intelligence profession is changing in an era defined by artificial intelligence, open-source data, and an unprecedented volume of information. Bob shares his perspective on developing the next generation of leaders, his work today as Co-CEO of Touchstone Futures, and why his role on the Afghanistan War Commission is an important opportunity for the nation to examine the lessons of a long and complex conflict.
Guest Bio
Bob Ashley retired with 36+ years of leadership, operational, and combat experience in intelligence, global security, and risk management. He served as the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency responsible to the Secretary of Defense for global security. He also served as US Army G2, the senior intelligence officer in the Army responsible for security, counter-intelligence, and intelligence systems development for an Army. As the commandant for the Army’s Intelligence Center, he was responsible for training Soldiers and Officers in cyber, counter-intelligence, analysis, open source intelligence. Today, he serves as the Co-Chief Executive Officer of Touchstone Futures and Commissioner on the Afghanistan War Commission. Bob holds Masters degrees from the US Army War College and Defense Intelligence College and a Bachelor of Science degree from Appalachian State University.
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