In a change-of-command ceremony July 23, Defense Information Systems Agency Director Air Force Lt Gen Ronnie Hawkins stepped down and Army LTG Alan Lynn assumed the role.
The director position is also dual-hatted as commander of Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Network.
DOD Chief Information Officer (CIO) Terry Halvorsen presided over the change of directorship, and Air Force Lt Gen James "Kevin" McLaughlin, deputy commander of U.S. Cyber Command, presided over the change of command. Halvorsen thanked Hawkins for his service to the agency and the Department of Defense.
"Ronnie has done an absolutely outstanding job as commander here. He has set new things in motion. I'm sure that Al is going to continue those and set his own new things in motion," said Halvorsen.
In passing the command from Hawkins to Lynn, McLaughlin said, "Al Lynn was cyber before cyber was cool. He has spent a career getting ready to do this job. We can't wait to get you on board as a team member."
Hawkins became DISA director in January 2012 and is retiring after 38 years of service in the Air Force and DoD. Lynn previously served as DISA vice director, a role he had held since September 2013. Before that, he commanded the Army Network Enterprise Technology Command at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Lynn was also deputy commanding general for network operations at Army Cyber Command/2nd U.S. Army, and was DISA's chief of staff from 2007 to 2008.
