LTG Paul T. Stanton ’95 assumed directorship of The Defense Information Systems Agency and command of the Joint Force Headquarters – Department of Defense Information Network in a change of command ceremony on October 4, 2024.
According to DISA, Stanton’s new era of leadership will aim to shape the future of cybersecurity and information technology across the Department of Defense. In a ceremonial passing of the flags, Stanton assumed directorship and command, vowing to carry forward the momentum established by his predecessor, Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert J. Skinner.
Presided over by some of the department’s highest-ranking leaders — Air Force Gen. Timothy D. Haugh, commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency/chief of Central Security Service, and Leslie A. Beavers, acting DOD chief information officer — the ceremony marked a significant transition for the DOD’s premier IT and telecommunications provider.
Stanton, previously serving as the commanding general of the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Eisenhower, brings extensive experience in cyber operations and information warfare. He acknowledged Skinner’s substantial contributions and expressed his eagerness to build upon the strong foundation he established.
Haugh emphasized the strategic importance of the leadership change, underscoring the critical roles DISA and JFHQ-DODIN have in defending the nation’s networks and ensuring freedom of action in cyberspace.
“This team, all of you, are engaged with our adversaries and our competitors on a daily basis, 24/7, and the very definition of success is nothing short of mission assurance for the joint force and for serving our nation’s decisive advantages,” said Haugh. “The mission has been accomplished by all of you over the past three years, enabled by Bob Skinner’s leadership. It is a fantastic way to wrap up a career of dedication serving our nation. JFHQ-DODIN and DISA will be in terrific and very capable hands with Lt. Gen. Paul Stanton at the helm and all of you working missions. Paul was built for this job.”
As Stanton assumed leadership, he laid out his vision for the future of the organizations, emphasizing the need to stay ahead of adversaries and continue providing exceptional support to the warfighter.
“We are in an unprecedented period of significant change in an unsettled world that has an insatiable appetite for data,” Stanton said. “At the core of our responsibilities, we must securely and reliably get the right data to the right place at the right time to make a better and faster decision than our enemies, period. This is our business. This is warfighting as it has been, it is today and will be in the future. This agency and command are critical to our nation’s warfighting success. Failure is not an option, and excellence is our standard.”
Listen to Stanton discuss the changing nature of warfare on the WPAOG Podcast.
