William K. Lietzau

As Director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), Mr. Lietzau leads the United States Government’s premier organization for vetting, industrial engagement, counterintelligence support, and security training with a workforce of approximately 12,000 federal and contract support personnel worldwide. Additionally, Mr. Lietzau directs the development and deployment of end-to-end national-level Information Technology infrastructure designed to support the security enterprise.

Prior to his current role, Mr. Lietzau served as the Director of the Personnel Vetting Transformation Office where he managed the transfer of the National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) to the nascent DCSA, and both initiated and led associated transformational efforts.

Before returning to government, Mr. Lietzau worked in several capacities in the private sector, including as the General Manager of an international business unit providing counter-terrorism and law enforcement training and mentoring in over 35 countries, as well as Operations and Maintenance, minor construction, and security services. He also served as the Vice President of a large government services contractor where he initially served as Deputy General Counsel overseeing security, contracting, international trade and compliance.

Mr. Lietzau served over three years as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Rule of Law and Detainee Policy and on several U.S. delegations negotiating multilateral treaties. Mr. Lietzau retired from the Marine Corps after 27 years having served in a number of important capacities, including as Deputy Legal Advisor on the National Security Council, as the Legal Advisor to U.S. European Command, in the Office of the Secretary of Defense Office of General Counsel following the attacks on 9/11, at the U.S. Department of State, as a legal advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and in several other legal positions. As a Marine Corps Infantry Officer, Mr. Lietzau commanded troops at the company, battalion, and installation levels over the course of his career.

Mr. Lietzau received a Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy and his Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School. He also holds an LL.M. from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s School, and a Master of Science in National Security Studies from the National War College.