Ted N. "Twig" Branch retired as a vice admiral in the United States Navy on 1 October 2016, after serving the last three years of his 37-year career as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for information warfare. In that capacity, he was the resource sponsor for the N2N6 portfolio which includes program investments for assured command and control, battlespace awareness, and integrated fires. He was the Navy's Chief Information Officer, the Director of Navy Cybersecurity, the leader of the Information Warfare Community, and the Director of Naval Intelligence. Branch was questioned by the Department of Justice regarding the Glenn Defense Marine Asia investigation in November 2013 and his access to classified information was suspended by the Secretary of the Navy. After a three-year investigation, Branch was cleared of all charges.

The Director of Naval Intelligence (DNI) serves as the head of Naval intelligence on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. The Director of Naval Intelligence also serves as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare (N2/N6) on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. The Director of Naval Intelligence is not to be confused with the Office of Naval Intelligence, a Navy Echelon III command that serves as the U.S. Navy's Service Intelligence Center and supports the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and the Director of Naval Intelligence via the Information Warfare Community.