Robert Cardillo is a Distinguished Fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology.

Prior to this appointment, he was the sixth Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and was sworn in October 3, 2014.

[2][3] Clapper said in a statement that the position would "elevate information sharing and collaboration" between those who collect intelligence and those who analyze it.

[12][13] In 2015, Cardillo invited American men's college basketball coach Bobby Knight, a friend of his from their time at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, to deliver an address to the NGA workforce on leadership.

[14] Knight visited the agency, and was then accused by four female NGA employees of inappropriate behavior and physical contact.

In March 2021, Cardillo was elected as chairman of the Board of the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation USGIF.