Robert Cardillo is a Distinguished Fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology. Prior to this appointment, he was the sixth Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and was sworn in October 3, 2014. He was previously selected by Director of National IntelligenceJames Clapper to serve as the first Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Intelligence Integration in September 2010. Clapper said in a statement that the position would "elevate information sharing and collaboration" between those who collect intelligence and those who analyze it. Cardillo previously served as Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Prior to that, he served as the Deputy Director for Analysis, DIA, and Director, Analysis and Production, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
Cardillo began his career with DIA in 1983 as an imagery analyst. In May 2000 he was selected to the Defense IntelligenceSenior Executive Service. Throughout his career, he has served in a variety of leadership positions within the Intelligence Community. In the summer of 2009, Cardillo served as the Acting J2, a first for a civilian, in support of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In May of 2019 Cardillo was named Distinguished Geospatial Fellow at Saint Louis University in which he will advise on strategy for geospatial growth in St. Louis. His role includes advising the growth of GeoSLU, Saint Louis University’s geospatial research, training, and innovation initiative, and advising the Cortex Innovation Community on geospatial strategy, innovation, and commercialization.
Controversy
Cardillo's leadership at NGA was marked by numerous issues at NGA that involved his leadership team and also his decision to have a family friend, Bobby Knight, deliver an address to the workforce on leadership. In 2015 Bobby Knight visited the agency and during that visit was accused by 4 female employees of inappropriate behavior. The result was an FBI investigation into the matter. While the FBI did not bring charges, the incident was a concern that affected agency employee engagement and morale. In February of 2019 the DoD IG published a report that found Ms. Ellen Ardrey, the agency Director of Human Capital, circumvented DoD policy and wasted government resources. Ms. Ardrey’s circumvention of policy resulted in a cost to the government of $280,000. Specifically, the investigation determined that Ms. Ardrey improperly permitted NGA senior officials to downgrade themselves to non-senior official positions within the agency for one pay period, and then paid them $40,000 each as buyout incentives to leave the agency. In part Ms. Ardrey's acts were motivated by her desire to implement Director Cardillo's organizational vision.. Also in February of 2019 the DoD IG concluded an investigation of Mr. Cardillo's Deputy, Justin Poole. The IG investigation concluded that Mr. Poole engaged in an inappropriate and unprofessional relationship with a subordinate from July 2018 through November 2018.. He was placed on Administrative leave on 27 February 2019
