Mr. Brett Markham serves as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Chief of Staff. In this role, he is a member of NGA’s executive leadership team and its third ranking officer responsible for daily agency operations. Mr. Markham oversees the Agency's executive support staff, administrative services, logistics, personnel security, human resources, employee training and development, corporate communications, and congressional engagement. He became NGA’s Chief of Staff on Apr. 27, 2020. 

Previously, Mr. Markham was the West Executive (WX) and dual-hatted as the Deputy Associate Director of Operations. He represented the Director and Deputy Director at NGA’s Campuses in St. Louis and assisted with the integration of all activities across the West. He was responsible for coordination of enterprise, cross-cutting activities across all Agency key components in the West, and maintained open communication between leadership and the workforce. As Deputy Associate Director of Operations, he provided direct oversight of the NGA Operations Center, the Office of NGA Defense, the Office of Expeditionary Operations and NGA leadership at the three NRO Aerospace Data Facilities. He coordinated and synchronized operational collections and requirements, planning, and worldwide management, to include directing analytic capabilities, and ensuring geospatial data is accessible and discoverable for users and customers. He prioritized assets to oversee crisis management, deployment of personnel, capabilities, and additional mission and operational activities. 

Mr. Markham was commissioned in June 1983 through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Auburn University. He served in various analytic, staff and leadership positions over the course of his 28 year naval career that included five strategic deterrent patrols, three carrier deployments, and service at three Combatant Commands and the Joint Staff. He also served as the Deputy Director of Intelligence (DJ2) for North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and as the Director of Intelligence (J2), United States Transportation Command. 

Mr. Markham previously served as the Director of Analytic Operations (D/AO) in the Analysis Directorate. As such, he was the Senior NGA officer responsible for the integration, execution and transformation of GEOINT operations across Analysis Directorate offices and NGA Support Teams working all intelligence mission issues. Immediately prior to that assignment, he served as the Associate Deputy Director for Operational Engagement (ADD/AE) and was responsible for providing strategic, transformation-oriented leadership to all Analysis Directorate entities at partner locations, in other intelligence agencies, combatant commands, and service intelligence centers. He has also served as the Deputy Director of the NGA Operations Center. 

Personal awards include the NGA Medallion for Excellence, DIA Directors Award, Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal