As a naval reservist, RADM Poe had numerous leadership assignments, including commanding all Naval Intelligence Reservist in the Washington metropolitan area - a command of 800 drilling reservists. As a Flag Officer, he has served as the Vice Director of Intelligence for the U.S. Atlantic Command, and as Commander, Naval Reserve Intelligence Command - a nationwide command of over 4,500 reservists.

Over the past six years, RADM Poe was recalled to active duty to serve in four key leadership assignments: the Commander, Office of Naval Intelligence; the Principal Director for Intelligence to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence; as the U.S. Defense Attaché to France; and most recently the Deputy Inspector General for Intelligence in the Office of the Inspector General, Department of Defense. Between June and September 2003, RADM Poe also served as the Inspector General to the President of the United States' Personal Envoy to Iraq. He retired from the Naval Reserve in October 2003.

As a civilian, RADM Poe retired from the Central Intelligence Agency in 1997 after serving 26 years with assignments in all four directorates and on the staff of the Director of Central Intelligence. He began his CIA career as an imagery analyst at the National Photographic Interpretation Center in 1972. He subsequently assumed leadership position in the Office of Training and Education to include Chief of Management and Executive Development, Analyst Training and Career Training, respectively. He had numerous senior-level assignments, including tours as an Inspector on the Inspector General's Staff, Deputy Division Chief in the Office of Information Technology, DCI Representative to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and finally, as the CIA Representative to the National Maritime Intelligence Center. RADM Poe was promoted to the rank of Senior Intelligence (SIS) Officer in 1989 and retired as an SIS-03.

RADM Poe is a native of Rowan County, N.C., and graduated from Dunbar High School, East Spencer. He attended Livingston College and later graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor's degree in Zoology. He earned a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and a master's degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. RADM Poe has attended numerous executive-level leadership training programs to include the National Security Management Seminar at the John F. Kennedy School of Government Harvard University.

RADM Poe's military decorations included the highest peacetime military award, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal. Other decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (three awards), the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), the Combat Actions Ribbon, and various unit service and campaign awards.