In a ceremony held September 18, 2008 at CIA Headquarters, Director Mike Hayden presented the Agency's Distinguished Intelligence Medal to Maj. Gen. Michael E. Ennis, USMC, who served as the National Clandestine Service's first Deputy Director for Community Human Intelligence (HUMINT) from May 2006 to August 2008.


In this newly created position, a product of CIA's expanded HUMINT management responsibilities, Gen. Ennis was responsible for integrating the clandestine HUMINT capabilities of the United States Intelligence Community. This included establishing HUMINT best practices and standards across the Community, and supporting the coordination of vital HUMINT operations designed to protect our nation's security.


In awarding one of the Agency's highest honors, Director Hayden paid tribute to Gen. Ennis service, saying, "Clearly, Mike's distinguished record at CIA has been one of moving to contact on some of the most challenging issues we face. Thanks in large part to his energy, pragmatism, expertise, and good humor, we're making HUMINT collection a joint effort in ways that were hard to imagine before September 2001."


In March 2007, Director Hayden ordered the creation of the HUMINT Enterprise Board of Governors, a CIA-led body consisting of 31 government organizations that conduct or enable HUMINT operations. Gen. Ennis played a crucial role in the Board's establishment and crucial work, including a landmark Intelligence Community Directive on HUMINT.


"If there was a single greatest difficulty or greatest feat in putting together this enterprise, it was hashing out the Intelligence Community Directive governing how we do HUMINT. That was a tough bureaucratic slog, and Mike was instrumental in reaching consensus and getting it done," Director Hayden said.The Distinguished Intelligence Medal is presented for performance of outstanding services or for achievement of a distinctly exceptional nature in a duty or responsibility.Earlier this month, Gen. Ennis was succeeded by Brig. Gen. Richard T. Ellis, USA.