## Department Of Defense Directive


NUMBER 5210.48
April 24, 2015
Incorporating Change 2, Effective October 1, 2020


## Usd(I&S)

 SUBJECT: Credibility Assessment (CA) Program

References: See Enclosure 1
1.  PURPOSE.  This directive:
a.  Reissues DoD Directive (DoDD) 5210.48 (Reference (a)) to establish policy and assign responsibilities for conducting CA examinations in the DoD.

b.  Establishes policy and assigns responsibilities for the use of polygraph and CA equipment and techniques:

(1)  In support of counterintelligence (CI), pursuant to the authority in DoDD 5143.01
(Reference (b)) and Title 10, United States Code (Reference (c)) to include exempted personnel. (2)  Implementing Security Executive Agent Directive 2 (Reference (d)), Intelligence Community Directive 704 (Reference (e)), and Intelligence Community Policy Guidance 704.6 (Reference (f)). (3) In the law enforcement and investigative activities of the Secretaries of the Military Departments inherent from authorities provided in sections 3013, 5013, and 8013 of Reference
(c) and the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense (IG DoD) pursuant to DoDD 5106.01 (Reference (g)). c.  Establishes the CA Integrated Management Group (CAIMG) and outlines its purpose and membership. 2.  APPLICABILITY.  This directive applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the IG DoD, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD (referred to collectively in this directive as the "DoD Components").

3.  POLICY.  It is DoD policy that:
a.  There will be a CA capability in the DoD consisting of instrumentation, techniques, and procedures to assess the truthfulness and credibility of individuals.

b.  Adequate safeguards must be in place to protect the rights and privacy of persons considered for or subjected to CA procedures in accordance with Reference (c), DoD Instruction
(DoDI) 5400.11 (Reference (h)).


c.  The polygraph instrument and associated examination techniques may be used for personnel security screenings, issue specific examinations, the adjudication for access to specific types of classified information, and the resolution of other examinee issues in accordance with Reference (f) and DoDI 5210.91 (Reference (i)).


d.  Only the Defense Criminal Investigative Organizations (DCIO) of the Military Departments and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) may use polygraph examinations for criminal investigative purposes.  Such examinations may only be administered after voluntary consent by the examinee.

e.  DoD Component heads may authorize the use of the CI scope polygraph (CSP) and expanded-scope screening (ESS) polygraph examinations as part of initial personnel (civilian, contractor, or military) security vetting and may be administered at periodic or aperiodic intervals in support of reinvestigations, personnel security investigations, internal security matters, or continuous evaluations in accordance with References (c), (d), (f), and (i).

f.  DoD Component CA subject matter experts will accept polygraph results from agencies outside the intelligence community when conducted consistent with References (d), (f), (i), and National Center for Credibility Assessment (NCCA) standards.

g.  Before being released to the customer, CA examination results will undergo quality control (QC) by trained CA personnel in accordance with Reference (i).  In a tactical environment where QC is not immediately available, the customer accepts the risk for any action taken before receiving CA QC examination results.

h.  After consultation with the organization's legal counsel, admissions to unreported federal and state crimes and violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice revealed during the course of a polygraph examination will be referred to the appropriate DCIO, CI investigative entity, the IG DoD, military commander, or civilian law enforcement authority in accordance with DoDI 5525.07 (Reference (j)), Memorandum of Understanding (Reference (k)), and the Director of National Intelligence Memorandum (Reference (l)).

i.  The NCCA is the office of primary responsibility for all DoD polygraph programs and non-DoD federal agencies polygraph programs as described in Reference (d).  The NCCA is responsible for the development and implementation of polygraph training, polygraph examiner continuing education certification standards, audits of department or agency polygraph quality assurance programs, and the conduct of research for tools and techniques related to CA.  The NCCA will provide support, when resources are available, to non-DoD federal agencies with authorized polygraph programs on a reimbursable basis or through support agreements in accordance with Reference (d), the Government Employees Training Act of 1958 (Reference (m)), and to State, local, and tribal entities in accordance with DoDI 3025.21
(Reference (n)).

j.  All DoD examiners who administer polygraphs on DoD personnel must be trained and certified and follow the standards set by the NCCA. 4.  RESPONSIBILITIES.  See Enclosure 2.

5.  RELEASABILITY.  **Cleared for public release.**  This Directive is available on the Directives Division Website at https://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/. 6.  SUMMARY OF CHANGE 2.  This administrative change updates the title of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security in accordance with Public Law 116-92 (Reference (o)). 7.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This directive is effective April 24, 2015.

Robert O. Work Deputy Secretary of Defense

Enclosures
1.  References

2.  Responsibilities

3.  DoD Components Approved to Conduct Polygraph Examinations

4.  CAIMG
Glossary

## Enclosure 1 References

 (a) DoD Directive 5210.48, "Polygraph and Credibility Assessment Program,"
January 25, 2007, as amended (hereby cancelled)
(b) DoD Directive 5143.01, "Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security
(USD(I&S))," October 24, 2014, as amended
(c) Title 10, United States Code
(d)
Security Executive Agent Directive 2, "Use of Polygraph in Support of Personnel Security Determinations for Initial or Continued Eligibility for Access to Classified Information or Eligibility to Hold a Sensitive Position," September 14, 2014
(e)
Intelligence Community Directive 704, "Personnel Security Standards and Procedures
Governing Eligibility for Access to Sensitive Compartmented Information and Other Controlled Access Program Information," October 1, 2008
(f)
Intelligence Community Policy Guidance 704.6, "Conduct of Polygraph Examinations for Personnel Security Vetting," February 4, 2015
(g)
DoD Directive 5106.01, "Inspector General of the Department of Defense (IG DoD)," April 20, 2012, as amended
(h) DoD Instruction 5400.11, "DoD Privacy and Civil Liberties Programs," January 29, 2019
(i)
DoD Instruction 5210.91, "Polygraph and Credibility Assessment (PCA) Procedures,"
August 12, 2010, as amended
(j)
DoD Instruction 5525.07, "Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between
the Departments of Justice and Defense Relating to the Investigation and Prosecution of Certain Crimes," March 5, 2020
(k) Memorandum of Understanding Between the Department of Justice and the Intelligence
Community, "Reporting of Information Concerning Federal Crimes," 1995
(l)
Director of National Intelligence Memorandum, "Reporting Possible Violations of Federal
and State Criminal Law," June 3, 2014
(m) U.S. Government Accountability Office, "Government Employees Training Act of 1958,"
November 17, 1977
(n) DoD Instruction 3025.21, "Defense Support of Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies,"
February 27, 2013, as amended
(o) Public Law 116-92, "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020,"
December 20, 2019
(p) DoD Instruction O-5240.10, "Counterintelligence (CI) in the DoD Components,"
April 27, 2020
(q) DoD Instruction 3305.11, "DoD Counterintelligence (CI) Training and Certification,"
August 13, 2015, as amended

## Enclosure 2 Responsibilities

 1.  USD(I&S).  The USD(I&S):
a.  Serves as the OSD Principal Staff Assistant (PSA) for the CA program.


b.  Approves DoD Components permitted to have CA programs.
c.  Approves new CA instrumentation, techniques, and procedures.


d.  Coordinates with the DNI concerning implementation of national CA standards and policies within DoD.


e.  In addition to PSA authorities stated in Reference (b), coordinates the criminal investigative use of the polygraph stated in Reference (i) with the Secretaries of the Military Departments and the DoD IG.

2.  DIRECTOR, DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (DIA).  Under the authority, direction, and control of the USD(I&S), the Director, DIA:

a.  Functionally manages the CA program.

b.  Appoints a CA subject matter expert to act as the CA program manager (CAPM).

c.  Establishes and maintains a process to monitor responsible and effective application of CA examinations.

d.  Approves CA support to non-DoD organizations.

e.  Appoints the chair to the CAIMG.

f.  Exercises authority, direction, and control over the NCCA.

g.  Leads the national level Polygraph and CA Executive Committee or its successor organization.

h.  May enter into formal agreements for the reimbursement of expenses incurred in supporting non-DoD polygraph programs.

3.  DoD COMPONENT HEADS APPROVED TO CONDUCT POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS.  The DoD Component heads that are approved in Enclosure 3 of this directive to conduct polygraph examinations:

a.  Conduct examinations within their areas of responsibility in accordance with References (c), (d), (e), (f), and (i).

b.  Support DoD Components without approved CA programs in accordance with DoDI O-
5240.10 (Reference (p)), or as appropriate. 4.  SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS AND THE COMMANDERS OF THE COMBATANT COMMANDS.  The Secretaries of the Military Departments and the Commanders of the Combatant Commands may approve and employ the use of the Preliminary Credibility Assessment Screening System, or its successor, in accordance with Reference (i). 5.  SECRETARY OF THE ARMY.  In addition to the responsibilities in section 3 and 4 of this enclosure, the Secretary of the Army will provide facility, administrative, logistical, and practical examination support to the NCCA.

## Enclosure 3 Dod Components Approved To Conduct Polygraph Examinations

 1.  MILITARY DEPARTMENTS

a.  U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.

b.  U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command. c.  U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
d.  U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations. 2.  DEFENSE AGENCIES
a.  National Security Agency/Central Security Service.

b.  DIA.

c.  National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

d.  National Reconnaissance Office.

3.  OFFICE OF THE IG DoD.  The Office of the IG DoD is approved to conduct polygraph examinations through the DCIS. 4.  OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.  Other organizations as approved by the USD(I&S).

## Enclosure 4 Caimg

 1.  PURPOSE.  The CAIMG serves as the principal forum for sharing information on CA technologies, trends and techniques, training, lessons learned, and threats.  The CAIMG is the principal CA advisory body to the Director, DIA, and the USD(I&S). 2.  MEMBERSHIP

a.  The CAPM will act as the CAIMG Chair.

b.  CAIMG membership includes representatives from the Components listed in Enclosure 3, NCCA, representatives from the USD(I&S), and other members as the Chair finds appropriate. 3.  MEETINGS.  The CAIMG should meet at least semi-annually to discuss CA issues.  At the discretion of the Chair, the CAIMG may meet by video teleconference or other electronic media.

4.  ACTIVITIES.  The CAIMG:


a.  Advises the Director, DIA, and the USD(I&S) on CA matters.
b.  Recommends to the Director, DIA:

(1)  Processes to monitor responsible and effective application of CA examinations.


(2)  Coordination of standards for education, training, certifications, quality assurance,
and research with the NCCA and the Community CI or Human Intelligence Training Council in
accordance with DoDI 3305.11 (Reference (q)).

(3)  New CA instrumentation, techniques, and procedures.
c.  Deconflicts CA activities and support within the DoD.

d.  Discusses emerging CA trends and provides to the USD(I&S), as necessary, studies and papers on lessons learned and recommendations to improve CA within the DoD.

e.  Recommends proper classification of CA technologies, techniques, and procedures.

## Glossary


PART I.  ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

CA
credibility assessment
CAIMG
Credibility Assessment Integrated Management Group
CAPM
Credibility Assessment program manager
CI
counterintelligence
CSP
counterintelligence scope polygraph


DCIO
Defense Criminal Investigative Organization
DCIS
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
DIA
Defense Intelligence Agency
DoDD
DoD directive
DoDI
DoD instruction


ESS
expanded-scope screening


IG DoD
Inspector General of the Department of Defense


NCCA
National Center for Credibility Assessment


PSA
Principal Staff Assistant


QC
quality control


USD(I&S) Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security

PART II.  DEFINITIONS These terms and their definitions are for the purpose of this directive. CA.  The multi-disciplinary field of techniques and procedures that assesses truthfulness and relies on physiological reactions and behavioral measures to test the agreement between an
individual's memories and his or her statements. CA instrumentation.  Technical devices, used with associated techniques, that measure or display physiological or behavioral activity that is analyzed in the assessment of an individual's truthfulness.

 DCIOs.  U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and DCIS.

ESS. An examination that includes the questions from a CSP polygraph and questions related to falsification of security forms, involvement with illegal drugs, and criminal activity. Polygraph and CA Executive Committee.  A national-level committee comprised of the polygraph program managers from all federal agencies with polygraph programs. polygraph examination.  A process encompassing all activities which take place between a polygraph examiner and examinee during a specific series of interactions.