Intel world

New chief for military spy agency

Rear Adm. Robert Sharp will become the next director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in February, according to a Dec. 26 news release from the organization.

He will take over for Robert Cardillo, who has served as head of the agency since 2014.

Sharp currently leads the Office of Naval Intelligence and serves as director of the National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office. On Nov. 29, the White House nominated Sharp for his third star and the Senate approved the nomination Dec. 22. In a Dec. 26 press release, the NGA formally announced the change in leadership. Politico had reported that Cardillo might be retiring and that a uniformed officer might be chosen to take his place.

NGA, which collects, analyzes and distributes geospatial information to the military and intelligence community, has been led by a civilian for eight years.