DISA reports to the U.S. Department of Defense Chief Information Officer. 

The office of the DoD CIO is the department's primary authority for the policy and oversight of information resources management, to include matters related to information technology, network defense and network operations.

The DOD CIO is responsible for achieving and maintaining information superiority through the collection, processing and dissemination of an uninterrupted flow of information in support of DoD missions. The DoD CIO exercises authority, direction and control over the director of DISA and organizationally reports to the secretary of defense, the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all defense matters and issues.