Amy Caroline Kibsey

I am deeply motivated by service, intellectual curiosity, and a strong commitment to the values that underpin the United States—values I am proud to model for my two children, an 18-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter. My patriotism and sense of duty have shaped both my professional path and the standards I hold for myself. I have always been drawn to research, analysis, and understanding the world at a deeper level, which naturally extends to my passion for exploring different cultures. Living in Japan from 2004–2006 through the JET Programme was one of the most formative experiences of my life; I continue to maintain close friendships there and return whenever possible. I love to travel, learn, and continuously challenge my worldview—interests that enhance my ability to connect with people, understand global dynamics, and bring empathy to complex international issues. Outside of work, I value lifelong learning, reading broadly across history and current events, supporting my children’s growth, staying active, and cultivating meaningful relationships. What sets me apart is the combination of unwavering dedication to country, cross-cultural experience, analytical passion, and the grounded perspective that comes from being both a mother and a mission-driven professional.

Amy Caroline Kibsey is a seasoned national security and intelligence leader with 17+ years of experience across DIA, the Joint Staff, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and international assignments. A proven GG-14-level performer, she specializes in strategic intelligence production, executive-level briefing, OSINT and multi-source analysis, foreign partner engagement, and enterprise-level mission planning. Her career includes leading high-visibility analytic teams, shaping national-level decisionmaking, and driving interagency coordination across the Intelligence Community and U.S. allies.

Most recently, she served as Branch Chief in DIA’s Office of Space and Counterspace, supervising analysts, directing 24/7 crisis cell operations, and overseeing technical training programs for advanced MASINT systems. As Chief of Intelligence Estimates on the Joint Staff, she briefed the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff weekly, synthesizing sensitive intelligence—including open-source trends, adversary TTPs, and geopolitical indicators—into actionable guidance for senior leaders shaping future force development.

Ms. Kibsey previously led Five Eyes (FVEY) mission coordination, improved intelligence-sharing policies, and expanded releasable production within DIA’s Indo-Pacific Regional Center. As a Joint Intelligence Planner for DIA’s DDGI, she directed a major multi-month mission analysis effort, uniting 80+ stakeholders across DIA, INDOPACOM, USFK, and USFJ to inform overseas posture, partner capacity building, and FVEY operational integration.

During her decade as a senior analyst and briefer in the Asia Pacific Regional Center, she produced 88+ analytic products that directly influenced OSD policy; maintained deep OSINT/PAI awareness of regional political and military dynamics; briefed OSD Assistant Secretaries, DASDs, J-2 leadership, and the Joint Staff; and achieved one of the division’s top performance ratings. Her work earned consistent praise for clarity, analytical rigor, and impact on high-level decisionmaking.

Ms. Kibsey brings significant experience in tradecraft enforcement, quality control, data validation, crisis operations, and structured analytic processes, shaped by her tenure at DIA’s Defense Intelligence Digest. Earlier, she served in Japan as a JET Programme prefectural advisor and foreign liaison, applying advanced cross-cultural communication and problem-solving skills in complex, high-visibility situations.

She holds an M.A. in Military Studies from Marine Corps University and a B.A. in International Studies and Japanese from American University (Magna Cum Laude). She is professionally fluent in Japanese and French (DLPT R3/L3/OPI 2+ in both) and is the recipient of multiple Special Act Impact Awards for exceptional analytic support, planning leadership, and high-impact intelligence briefings.

During my Master’s in Military Studies at the Marine Corps University Command and Staff College, I completed a rigorous, graduate-level program centered on Joint Planning, operational art, and strategic security studies. The curriculum emphasized mastery of the Joint Planning Process (JPP), which we applied extensively through complex wargames, campaign design exercises, and scenario-based planning. As the only civilian in my cohort, I brought a unique perspective to a group composed primarily of military officers, strengthening my ability to collaborate, communicate, and lead within diverse, senior-level teams. Our studies spanned the full spectrum of U.S. military doctrine, force development, global security challenges, and geopolitical dynamics, reinforced by faculty-led seminars and staff rides that analyzed historical battles and operational decisions on the ground. This program not only deepened my expertise in operational planning but also sharpened my strategic thinking, broadened my understanding of global military affairs, and enhanced my ability to advise senior leaders on complex security problems.