i
ii
1

Table of Contents

Tab 1: Intelligence Overview

Defining and Using Intelligence .............................................................................................7

What is the Intelligence Community? ......................................................................................7

The Six Steps in the Intelligence Cycle .................................................................................10

Tab 2: Intelligence Community Members

Office of the Director of National Intelligence ........................................................................15

Central Intelligence Agency .................................................................................................18

Defense Intelligence Agency ................................................................................................20

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency................................................................................22

National Reconnaissance Office ...........................................................................................23

National Security Agency.....................................................................................................23

Department of Energy, Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence.......................................25

Department of Homeland Security, Office of Intelligence and Analysis .....................................25

Coast Guard .......................................................................................................................27

Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration .......................................................27

Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation ..........................................................29

Department of State, Bureau of Intelligence and Research .....................................................31

Department of the Treasury, Office of Intelligence and Analysis ...............................................32

Army .................................................................................................................................32

Navy..................................................................................................................................33

Air Force............................................................................................................................34

Marine Corps......................................................................................................................34

Tab 3: Requirements, Planning, and Direction

What Intelligence Can (and Cannot) Do.................................................................................39

Who Uses U.S. Intelligence?................................................................................................41
2

Intelligence Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Evaluation ..............................................44

Acquisition/Science and Technology: Delivering Technical Capabilities....................................45

Intelligence Community Requirements Processes...................................................................46

Collection Management Overview .........................................................................................47

Prioritizing Intelligence Issues: The National Intelligence Priorities Framework .........................49

Tab 4: Collection, Processing, and Exploitation

Sources of Intelligence........................................................................................................53

GEOINT.............................................................................................................................53

HUMINT............................................................................................................................54

MASINT.............................................................................................................................54

OSINT ...............................................................................................................................54

SIGINT..............................................................................................................................55

Processing and Exploitation .................................................................................................56

Tab 5: Analysis, Production, and Feedback

Analysis and Production ......................................................................................................59

Estimative Language...........................................................................................................59

Analytic Products ...............................................................................................................60

Classification......................................................................................................................61

Review and Release ............................................................................................................62

Tab 6: Organizational Oversight

Joint Intelligence Community Council...................................................................................67

Legislative Oversight ...........................................................................................................68

National Security Council ....................................................................................................69

President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.................................................................................70

Office of the Inspector General.............................................................................................70

Financial Management and Oversight ...................................................................................70

Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity ........................................................................71

Civil Liberties and Privacy Office ..........................................................................................72
3

Tab 7: Careers in the Intelligence Community

The Benefits of Working in the IC .........................................................................................75

Tab 8: References

Glossary of Terms................................................................................................................79

Acronyms and Abbreviations ................................................................................................86

Resources ..........................................................................................................................90

Laws and Policies Governing the IC .....................................................................................94

Subject Index.....................................................................................................................97
4
5

Intelligence

Overview

INTELLIGENCE

OVERVIEW
In the early morning hours of May 2, 2011, a U.S. military raid on an al-Qa’ida compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, killed America’s most-wanted terrorist, Usama Bin Ladin.

U.S. agencies and partners across the Intelligence Community had been collecting intelligence about 

the compound since it was discovered in August 2010. The raid on the compound, authorized by the 

President on April 29, was conducted by a small team of special operations soldiers. The raid was 

designed to minimize collateral damage and risk to non-combatants in the compound and Pakistani 

civilians in the area.

The death of Bin Ladin, al-Qa’ida’s founder and only amir, or commander, in its 22-year history, 

marks the single greatest victory in the U.S.-led campaign to disrupt, dismantle, and eventually 

dissolve al-Qa’ida. 

THE OPERATION THAT KILLED BIN LADIN

Courtesy of CIA
7

Intelligence

Overview

Defining and Using Intelligence

According to the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), the 

terms “National Intelligence” and “intelligence 

related to national security” refer to all intelligence, regardless of the source from which it 

is derived and including information gathered 

within or outside the United States, 

n that pertains, as determined to be consistent with any guidance issued by the 

President, to more than one U.S. Government agency; and 

n that involves:

n Threats to the U.S., its people, 

property, or interests;

n The development, proliferation, or use 

of weapons of mass destruction; or

n Any other matter bearing on U.S. 

national homeland security.

The U.S. Government uses intelligence to 

improve and more fully understand the consequences of its national security decisions. 

Intelligence informs policy decisions, military 

actions, international negotiations, and interactions with working-level contacts in foreign 

countries. In some circumstances, intelligence 

can also aid the efforts of homeland security 

providers and first responders.

What is the Intelligence Community?

The Intelligence Community (IC) is a group of 

Executive Branch agencies and organizations 

that work separately and together to engage in 

intelligence activities that are necessary for the 

conduct of foreign relations and the protection 

of the national security of the United States.

These activities include:

n Collection of information needed by the 

President, the National Security Council, 
8

the Secretaries of State and Defense, and 

other Executive Branch officials for the 

performance of their duties and fulfillment 

of their responsibilities.

n Production and dissemination of 

intelligence.

n Collection of information concerning 

intelligence activities directed against the 

United States, international terrorist and 

narcotics activities, and other such hostile 

activities carried out by foreign powers, 

organizations, persons, and their agents.

n The conduct of actions to protect against 

hostile activities directed against the 

United States. 

n Performance of special activities.

n Performance of administrative and support 

activities within the United States 

and abroad that are necessary for the 

performance of various other intelligence 

activities.

n Performance of such other intelligence 

activities as the President may direct from 

time to time.

The IC is led by the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), who is the head of the Office 

of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) 

and whose duty is to coordinate the other 16 IC 

components based on intelligence consumers’ 

needs. The other members of the IC are divided 

into three groups: Program Managers, Departments, and Service components.

n Program Managers advise and assist the 

ODNI in identifying collection requirements, 

developing budgets, managing finances, 

and evaluating the IC’s performance. 

n Departments are IC components embedded within Government departments (other 

than the Department of Defense [DoD]). 

These components focus on serving their 

parent department’s intelligence needs.

n All intelligence personnel in the armed 

forces are members of the Service IC 

components, which primarily support their 

own Service’s information needs. Each 

Service has at least one major intelligence 

organization as well as intelligence officers 

integrated throughout its structure.

Intelligence Integration

The core mission of ODNI is to lead the Intelligence Community in intelligence integration. Basically, intelligence integration means 

synchronizing collection, analysis, and counterintelligence so that they are fused—effectively 

operating as one team.

Unifying Intelligence Strategies (UIS) are 

the central critical plans for achieving intelligence integration. They cover our strategies 

by geography and topic. They foster an environment that encourages, enables, and recognizes 

integration at all levels of the IC.
9

Air Force

Intelligence

Army

Intelligence

Coast Guard

Intelligence

Marine Corps

Intelligence

Naval

Intelligence

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

SERVICES

Central 

Intelligence 

Agency

Defense

Intelligence

Agency

FBI

National

Security

Branch

National

GeospatialIntelligence

Agency

National

Reconnaissance

Ofce

National

Security

Agency

PROGRAM MANAGERS

DEA Ofce

of National

Security 

Intelligence

Energy Ofce of

Intelligence and

CounterIntelligence

DHS Ofce of

Intelligence

and Analysis

State Bureau of 

Intelligence

and Research

Treasury Ofce

of Intelligence

and Analysis

DEPARTMENTS

National Intelligence Managers (NIMs) and 

their teams create UIS in line with the IC 

prioritized requirements. They are thus charged 

with leading integration across the IC by topic 

and region. 
10

Planning & 

Direction Collection Processing & Exploitation 

Analysis & 

Production Dissemination Evaluation

The Six Steps in the Intelligence Cycle

The Intelligence Cycle is the process of developing raw information into finished intelligence 

for use by policymakers, military commanders, 

and other consumers in decisionmaking. This 

six-step cyclical process is highly dynamic, 

continuous, and never-ending . The sixth step, 

evaluation (which includes soliciting feedback 

from users) is conducted for each of the other 

five steps individually and for the Intelligence 

Cycle as a whole. 

The six steps that constitute the Intelligence 

Cycle are as follows: 
11

Planning and Direction:

Establish the consumer’s intel-

ligence requirements and plan 

intelligence activities accordingly. 

The planning and direction step 

sets the stage for the Intel-

ligence Cycle. It is the spring-

board from which all Intelligence 

Cycle activities are launched. 

Oftentimes, the direction part of 

the step precedes the planning 

part. Generally, in such cases, 

the consumer has a require-

ment for a specific product. That 

product may be a full report, a 

graphic image, or raw informa-

tion that is collected, processed, 

and disseminated, but skips the 

analysis and production step. 

Given the customer’s require-

ment, the intelligence organiza-

tion tasked with generating the 

product will then plan its Intel-

ligence Cycle activities. 

Collection:Gather the raw data 

required to produce the finished 

product. 

Data collection is performed to 

gather raw data related to the 

five basic intelligence sources 

(Geospatial Intelligence [GEO-

INT], Human Intelligence 

[HUMINT], Measurement and 

Signature Intelligence [MA-

SINT], Open-Source Intelligence 

[OSINT], and Signals Intelli-

gence [SIGINT]). The sources of 

the raw data may include, but 

are not limited to, news reports, 

aerial imagery, satellite imag-

ery, and government and public 

documents.

Processing and Exploitation:

Convert the raw data into a com-

prehensible format that is usable 

for production of the finished 

product. 

The processing and exploitation 

step (see the Glossary of Terms 

for a definition of “exploitation”) 

involves the use of highly trained 

and specialized personnel and 

technologically sophisticated 

equipment to turn the raw data 

into usable and understandable 

information. Data translation, 

data decryption, and interpreta-

tion of filmed images and other 

imagery are only a few of the pro-

cesses used for converting data 

stored on film, magnetic, or other 

media into information ready for 

analysis and production. 
12

Analysis and Production:

Integrate, evaluate, analyze, and 

prepare the processed informa-

tion for inclusion in the finished 

product. 

The analysis and production step 

also requires highly trained and 

specialized personnel (in this 

case, analysts) to give meaning 

to the processed information 

and to prioritize it against known 

requirements. Synthesizing the 

processed information into a 

finished, actionable (see the 

Glossary of Terms for a defini-

tion of “actionable”) intelligence 

product enables the information 

to be useful to the customer. 

Note that, in some cases, the 

Intelligence Cycle may skip this 

step (for example, when the 

consumer needs only specific 

reported information or prod-

ucts such as raw imagery). This 

was the case during the Cuban 

Missile Crisis (October 1962) 

when President Kennedy needed 

only the actual number of pieces 

of Soviet equipment in Cuba 

and facts concerning reports on 

observed Soviet activity with no 

analysis of that information. 

Dissemination:Deliver the 

finished product to the consumer 

that requested it and to others as 

applicable.

The consumer that requested 

the information receives the 

finished product, usually via 

electronic transmission. Dissem-

ination of the information typi-

cally is accomplished through 

such means as websites, email, 

Web 2.0 collaboration tools, and 

hardcopy distribution. The final, 

finished product is referred to as 

“finished intelligence.” After the 

product is disseminated, further 

gaps in the intelligence may be 

identified, and the Intelligence 

Cycle begins all over again. Evaluation: Continually acquire 

feedback during the Intelligence Cycle and evaluate that feedback 

to refine each individual step and 

the cycle as a whole. 

Constant evaluation and feed-

back from consumers are 

extremely important to enabling 

those involved in the Intelligence 

Cycle to adjust and refine their 

activities and analysis to better 

meet consumers’ changing and 

evolving information needs.
Intelligence 

Community 

Members

INTELLIGENCE

COMMUNITY

MEMBERS
Navajo Code Talkers

With little more than ingenious application of their native language, the Navajo Code Talkers created the 

only unbreakable code in modern military history. From Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the Code 

Talkers served with distinction in every major engagement of the Pacific Theater from 1942 to 1945. 

Their code, which the Japanese never managed to break, helped to end World War II and save thousands 

of lives.

The Code Talkers were young Navajo men who were tapped by the U.S. Marines to devise a code for radio 

communications. The Code Talkers’ cryptographic innovation made use of a little-studied and extremely 

complex Native American language unlike any other. English words were spelled out using Navajo words 

to represent letters of the English alphabet. For instance, the words “wol-la-chee” (which means “ant” 

in Navajo) and “be-la-sana” (apple) both stood for the letter “A.” The developers of the code also used 

Navajo words to represent more than 400 frequently used military terms. The word “da-he-tih-hi” (hummingbird) stood for “fighter plane,” and “chay-da-gahi” (tortoise) was translated as “submarine.”

Courtesy of Navajo Code Talkers
15

Office of the Director of National Intelligence

Post 9/11 investigations proposed sweeping 

change in the Intelligence Community (IC), 

which resulted in Congressional passage of the 

Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention 

Act of 2004 (IRTPA). The IRTPA created the 

Office of the Director of National Intelligence 

(ODNI) to improve information sharing, promote a strategic, unified direction, and ensure 

integration across the U.S. Intelligence Community. The ODNI stood up on April 21, 2005; 

it is led by a Director of National Intelligence 

(DNI). 

As the leader of the 17 Intelligence Community organizations, the DNI serves as the 

principal advisor to the President and the National Security Council for intelligence matters 

related to the national security, and oversees 

and directs the implementation of the National 

Intelligence Program. The President appoints 

Intelligence

Community

Members

the DNI with the advice and consent of the 

Senate. The DNI works closely with a Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed Principal 

Deputy Director of National Intelligence to 

effectively integrate all intelligence related to 

national and homeland security in defense of 

the homeland and in support of United States 

national security interests at home and abroad. 

The core mission of the ODNI is to lead the IC 

in Intelligence Integration, forging a community that delivers the most insightful intelligence 

possible. Intelligence Integration is the key to 

ensuring that the highest quality of intelligence 

is delivered with the right inputs, at the right 

time, in defense of the Homeland. 

The ODNI is also comprised of several statutory 

components, to include the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), the National Counterproliferation Center (NCPC), the National 
16

Counterintelligence Executive (NCIX), and the 

National Intelligence Council (NIC).

National Counterterrorism Center

The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), 

which resides within the ODNI, has primary 

responsibility within the U.S. Government 

for counterterrorism intelligence analysis and 

counterterrorism strategic operational planning. 

NCTC’s components are the Directorate of Intelligence, Directorate of Strategic Operational 

Planning, Directorate of Operations Support, 

Directorate of Terrorist Identities, and the 

Office of National Intelligence Management. 

Their functions are:

n Directorate of Intelligence: Leads the production and integration of counterterrorism 

analysis for the U.S. Government.

n Directorate of Strategic Operational 

Planning: Directs the U.S. Government’s 

planning efforts to focus all elements of 

national power against the terrorist threat.

n Directorate of Operations Support: Provides 

the common intelligence picture for the 

counterterrorism community with 24 hours 

a day/7 days a week situational awareness; 

terrorism threat reporting; management 

and incident information tracking; and 

support for worldwide, national, and international special events.

n Directorate of Terrorist Identities: Maintains a consolidated repository of information on international terrorist identities and 

ensures Federal agencies can access the 

information they need through the Terrorist 

Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE).

n Office of National Intelligence Management: Provides strategic management of 

all national intelligence related to the IC’s 

counterterrorism mission to set analytic 

and collection priorities; advance analytic 

tradecraft and training; and lead strategic 

planning, evaluation, and budgeting.

National Counterproliferation Center 

The National Counterproliferation Center 

(NCPC) is the bridge from the IC to the policy 

community for activities within the U.S. Government associated with countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). 

NCPC conducts strategic counterproliferation 

planning for the IC to support policy efforts 

to prevent, halt, or mitigate the proliferation 

of WMDs, their delivery systems, and related 
17

materials and technologies. This includes both 

states of concern and, in partnership with the 

National Counterterrorism Center, non-state 

actors. NCPC achieves this by drawing on the 

expertise of counterproliferation professionals 

in the IC, the U.S. Government, industry, and 

academia. These relationships foster an atmosphere of collaboration and intelligence sharing 

in order to protect the U.S.’s interests at home 

and abroad.

National Counterintelligence Executive 

The National Counterintelligence Executive (NCIX) serves as the head of national 

counterintelligence and security for the U.S. 

Government. Per the Counterintelligence Enhancement Act of 2002, the NCIX is charged 

with promulgating an annual strategy for all 

counterintelligence elements of the U.S. 

Government. The Office of the NCIX is charged 

with integrating the activities of all counterintelligence programs to make them coherent 

and efficient. They also coordinate counterintelligence policy and budgets to the same end. 

It is also responsible for evaluating the performance of the counterintelligence community 

against the strategy. ONCIX’s Special Security 

Division is responsible for security policy and 

uniformity across the U.S. Government. 

National Intelligence Council

The National Intelligence Council (NIC), a 

Congressionally-mandated council, is a component of the ODNI that conducts mid- and 

long-term strategic analysis through the use 

of all-source intelligence. Since its formation 

in 1979, the NIC has been a source of deep 

substantive expertise on intelligence matters 

and a facilitator of integrated, IC coordinated 

strategic analysis on issues of key concern to 

senior U.S. policymakers. Some of the NIC’s 

core functions are to: 

n Produce National Intelligence Estimates 

(NIEs) — the IC’s most authoritative 

written assessments on national security 

issues, as well as a broad range of other 

Community coordinated products.

n Foster outreach to nongovernmental experts in academia and the private sector to 

broaden the IC’s perspective.

n Articulate substantive intelligence priorities to guide intelligence collection and 

analysis.

F O F CI E OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELL GI NE EC

ATIO

RECT

CE

DI

N

L

F O F CI

GI NE
18

Central 

Intelligence Agency

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is the 

largest producer of all-source national security 

intelligence for senior U.S. policymakers. The 

CIA’s intelligence analysis on overseas developments feeds into the informed decisions by 

policymakers and other senior decisionmakers 

in the national security and defense arenas. 

The CIA does not make foreign policy.

The Director of the CIA (DCIA) is the National 

Human Intelligence Manager and serves on 

behalf of the DNI as the national authority for 

coordination, de-confliction, and evaluation of 

clandestine HUMINT operations across the IC, 

consistent with existing laws, Executive Orders, 

and interagency agreements.

CIA is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.

Organization

The National Clandestine Service (NCS) has 

responsibility for the clandestine collection 

(primarily human source collection, or HUMINT) of foreign intelligence that is not obtainable through other means. The NCS engages 

in counterintelligence activities by protecting 

classified U.S. activities and institutions from 

penetration by hostile foreign organizations and 

individuals. NCS also carries out covert actions 

in support of U.S. policy goals when legally 

and properly directed and authorized by the 

President.

The Directorate of Intelligence (DI) analyzes 

all-source intelligence and produces reports, 

briefings, and papers on key foreign intelligence issues. This information comes from 

a variety of sources and methods, including 

U.S. personnel overseas, human intelligence 

reports, satellite photography, open source 

information, and sophisticated sensors.

The Directorate of Science and Technology 

(DS&T) accesses, collects, and exploits 

information to facilitate the execution of the 

CIA’s mission by applying innovative scientific, 

engineering, and technical solutions to the 

most critical intelligence problems. 
19

The Directorate of Support (DS) delivers a 

full range of support, including acquisitions, 

communications, facilities services, financial 

management, information technology, medical 

services, logistics, and the security of Agency 

personnel, information, facilities, and technology. DS services are both domestic and international in focus and are offered 24 hours a 

day/7 days a week. 

CIA is the Executive Agent for In-Q-Tel, the 

nonprofit, strategic venture capital firm chartered to connect the technology demands of 

the CIA and IC partners’ intelligence missions 

with the emerging technology of the entrepreneurial community.

The Open Source Center 

The Open Source Center (OSC), under the 

DNI, is the U.S. Government’s center for open 

source intelligence. The Director of the CIA 

serves as the Executive Agent for the DNI in 

managing the OSC. It is charged with:

n Collecting, translating, producing, and 

disseminating open source information 

that meets the needs of policymakers, the 

military, state and local law enforcement, 

operations officers, and analysts throughout the U.S. Government.

n Helping to enable open source capabilities in other parts of the Government and 

military.

n Hosting open source material on OpenSource.gov for Government-wide use.

About OSC: OSC produces more than 2,300 

products daily, including translations, transcriptions, analyses, reports, video compilations, and geospatial intelligence, to address 

short-term needs and longer-term issues. Its 

products cover issues that range from foreign 

political, military, economic, science, and 

technology topics, to counterterrorism, counterproliferation, counternarcotics, and other 

homeland security topics. 

OSC also collects “gray literature,” which is 

material with very limited distribution, such as 

academic papers, brochures, leaflets, and other 

publicly distributed materials. 

OSC provides training through its Open Source 

Academy, consultative services, and personnel 

exchanges.

2SHQ6RXUFH&HQWHU
20

Defense 

Intelligence Agency

The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) collects, produces, and manages foreign military 

intelligence for policymakers and military commanders. It has major activities at the Defense 

Intelligence Analysis Center (DIAC), Joint Base 

Anacostia-Bolling, in Washington, D.C.; the 

Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC), 

in Huntsville, Alabama; the National Center 

for Medical Intelligence (NCMI), in Frederick, 

Maryland; Rivanna Station near Charlottesville, 

Virginia; and Quantico Marine Corps Base, 

Virginia. Approximately 30 percent of DIA’s 

employees are military, and approximately 70 

percent are civilians.

The DIA Director is a senior military intelligence advisor to the Secretary of Defense 

and the DNI. In addition, the DIA Director is 

the program manager for the General Defense 

Intelligence Program (GDIP); program manager for the DoD Foreign Counterintelligence 

Program; functional manager for Measurement and Signatures Intelligence (MASINT)

and, since 2006, program coordinator for the 

DIA and Combatant Command portion of the 

Military Intelligence Program (MIP). The DIA 

Director also serves as commander of the Strategic Command’s Joint Functional Component 

Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and 

Reconnaissance. 

Organization

The Directorate for Analysis (DI) assesses foreign militaries with focus on weapons of mass 

destruction (WMD), missile systems, terrorism, 

infrastructure systems, and defense-related 

medical issues. The Deputy Director for Analysis is dual-hatted as the Functional Manager 

for Analysis for the Defense Intelligence Analysis Program. 

The Directorate for Intelligence, Joint Staff 

(J2) provides foreign military intelligence to the 

Joint Chiefs of Staff and senior DoD officials. 

The Defense Counterintelligence and Human 

Intelligence Center (DCHC) directs, manages 

and conducts Defense Counterintelligence (CI) 

and Human Intelligence (HUMINT) activities 

to meet Defense requirements. The DCHC is 

organized to direct, coordinate and deconflict 

CI and HUMINT issues across Defense, combatant commands and the service CI/HUMINT 

organizations. 

The Directorate for MASINT and Technical Collection (DT) is the defense intelligence center 

for Measurement and Signatures Intelligence 

(MASINT). It collects and analyzes MASINT, 

and also develops new MASINT capabilities.
21

The Directorate for Information Management 

and the Chief Information Office serves as 

DIA’s information technology component. It 

manages the Department of Defense Intelligence Information System (DoDIIS) and 

operates the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS).

The Underground Facilities Analysis Center

The Underground Facilities Analysis Center 

(UFAC) uses national intelligence and nonintelligence resources to find, characterize, and 

assess underground facilities (UGFs) used by 

adversarial state and non-state actors. UFAC 

coordinates IC efforts to detect, analyze, collect, and report on UGF programs in support 

of U.S. policymakers, warfighters, and the defense acquisition community. The UFAC Director reports jointly to the Secretary of Defense 

and the DNI through DIA. UFAC is composed 

of elements from DIA, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), NGA, and NSA.

National Media Exploitation Center

The National Media Exploitation Center 

(NMEC) ensures the rapid collection, processing, exploitation, dissemination, and sharing of 

all acquired and seized media across the intelligence, counterintelligence, military, and law 

enforcement communities. These tasks include 

the collection, receipt, cataloging, initial processing, and transmission of information; forensic analysis and translation; and reporting, 

storage, dissemination, and sharing. NMEC is a 

DNI Center, and DIA is its Executive Agent.

“United in Memory – Committed to Freedom” is a memorial 

dedicated to the seven DIA employees who lost their lives 

on 9/11 at the Pentagon.
22

National 

GeospatialIntelligence Agency

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency 

(NGA) is the nation’s premier source of geospatial intelligence.

As a Department of Defense combat support 

agency and a member of the U.S. Intelligence 

Community, NGA provides imagery, geospatial, 

and targeting analysis, along with image sciences and modeling for U.S. national defense, 

disaster relief, and safety of navigation.

The vision of NGA is to put the power of Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) into its customers’ hands

n By providing online, on-demand access to 

its content, services, expertise, and support, along with the tools that allow users 

to serve themselves, and 

n By broadening and deepening its analytic 

expertise, providing anticipatory analysis, 

and moving from a target-based model to an 

issue-driven, activity-based environment. 

NGA seeks to know the Earth, show the way, 

and understand the world.

Headquartered in Springfield, Virginia, NGA 

also has facilities in St. Louis, Missouri. NGA 

support teams are located worldwide to provide 

direct GEOINT services to NGA customers and 

partners.

National 

Reconnaissance 

Office 

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) was 

established in September 1961 as a classified 

agency of the Department of Defense (DoD). 

The existence of the NRO and its mission were 

declassified in September 1992.
23

Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, the NRO 

develops and operates unique and innovative 

overhead reconnaissance systems and conducts intelligence-related activities for U.S. national security. The NRO is staffed by members 

of the armed services as well as civilians from 

the Central Intelligence Agency and the DoD. 

The NRO is managed by a Director, a Principal 

Deputy Director, and a Deputy Director.

NRO systems provide SIGINT (enemy communications, signals from foreign weapons 

systems, and other signals of interest) and 

GEOINT (imagery) intelligence data. NRO 

satellites are frequently the only collectors able 

to access critical areas of interest in support of 

covert and high priority operations.

Key customers and mission partners of the NRO 

include: policymakers, the Armed Services, the 

Intelligence Community, Departments of State, 

Justice, and the Treasury, and civil agencies. 

All of them depend on NRO systems to help 

attack hard problems such as:

n Countering the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) threat

n Capturing terrorists

n Warning of enemy attacks

n Combating WMD proliferation

n Combating drug trafficking

n Supporting natural disaster response 

The NRO is funded through the National 

Intelligence Program (NIP) and the Military 

Intelligence Program (MIP) consistent with the 

priorities and processes established by the DNI 

and the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USD(I)).

National 

Security Agency

The National Security Agency and its military 

partner, the Central Security Service, leads 

the U.S. Government in cryptology that encompasses both Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) 

and Information Assurance (IA) products 

and services, and enables Computer Network 

Operations (NCO) in order to gain a decision 

advantage for the nation and our allies under 

all circumstances.

NSA is part of the Department of Defense, 

and is staffed by a combination of civilian and 

military personnel.

The Central Security Service (CSS) provides 

timely and accurate cryptologic support, knowledge, and assistance to the military cryptologic community. It promotes full partnership 

between NSA and the cryptologic elements 

of the Armed Forces, and teams with senior 
24

military and civilian leaders to address and act 

on critical military-related issues in support of 

national and tactical intelligence objectives. 

CSS coordinates and develops policy and guidance on the Signals Intelligence and Information Assurance missions of NSA/CSS to ensure 

military integration. 

NSA/CSS has an extensive consumer outreach 

system, with representatives in many intelligence consumer organizations in the Washington, D.C., area, in other parts of the U.S., and 

around the world. NSA’s headquarters is at Fort 

Meade, Maryland.

Organization

The Signals Intelligence Directorate is responsible for collecting, processing, and disseminating information from foreign signals for 

intelligence and counterintelligence purposes 

and to support military operations. 

Operating under the authority of the Secretary of Defense, the Information Assurance 

Directorate ensures the availability, integrity, 

authentication, confidentiality, and nonrepudiation of national security and telecommunications and information systems (national 

security systems).

The National Security Operations Center 

(NSOC) is a 24 hours a day/7 days a week 

operations center that provides total situational 

awareness across the NSA/CSS enterprise for 

both foreign Signals Intelligence and Information Assurance, maintains cognizance of national security information needs, and monitors 

unfolding world events. 

The NSA/CSS Threat Operations Center (NTOC) 

uses both Information Assurance and Signal 

Intelligence information and authorities to 

uncover and characterize cyberthreats and 

to provide situational awareness for network 

operators and defenders. 

The Research Directorate is the only “inhouse” organization in the Intelligence Community dedicated to advancing intelligence 

through science. They create research breakthroughs in mathematics, science, and engineering that enable NSA/CSS to achieve and sustain 

advances for the Intelligence Community.

Department

of Energy 

Office of Intelligence and 

CounterIntelligence

The Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible 

for U.S. energy policy.

The Department of Energy also has a system of 

National Laboratories and Technical Centers, 
25

which are primarily operated by private corporations and universities. They conduct scientific research in the national interest.

The Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence (IN) is DOE’s intelligence office and IC 

component. It focuses on assessing worldwide 

nuclear terrorism threats and nuclear counterproliferation, and evaluating foreign technology 

threats. This office also provides the IC with 

access to DOE’s energy information and technical expertise.

Department 

of Homeland 

Security

Office of Intelligence and

Analysis

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 

is responsible for leading the unified national 

effort to secure the United States by preventing and deterring terrorist attacks and responding to threats and hazards.

The Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) 

provides intelligence support across the full 

range of Homeland Security missions, as 

defined in the Quadrennial Homeland Security 

Review. I&A ensures that information related to 

homeland security threats is collected, analyzed, and disseminated to all relevant customers. The I&A mission is to equip the Homeland 

Security Enterprise with the intelligence and 

information it needs to keep the homeland 

safe, secure, and resilient. I&A’s mission is 

supported by four strategic goals:

n Promote understanding of threats through 

intelligence analysis 

n Collect information and intelligence pertinent to homeland security 

n Share information necessary for action 

n Manage intelligence for the homeland 

security enterprise

I&A is a member of the Intelligence Community and part of a larger Homeland Security 

Enterprise that includes Departmental leaders 

and components, state, local, tribal, territorial 

and private sector partners and other IC members, all of whom require and generate homeland security intelligence and information. The 

Under Secretary for I&A (U/SIA) also serves as 

DHS’ Chief Intelligence Officer and is responsible to both the Secretary of Homeland Security 

and the Director of National Intelligence. I&A’s 

budget is 100 percent funded in the National 

Intelligence Program (NIP).

I&A has a unique mandate within the Intelligence Community and the Federal Government 
26

lead for sharing information and intelligence 

with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments and the private sector. I&A serves as the 

information conduit and intelligence advocate 

for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments. I&A supports 72 recognized state and 

major urban area fusion centers with deployed 

personnel and systems, training, and collaboration. This national network of fusion centers 

is the hub of much of the two-way intelligence 

and information flow between the Federal 

Government and our state, local, tribal, and 

territorial partners. The fusion centers represent a shared commitment between the federal 

government and the state and local governments who own and operate them.

Although they are not part of the IC, several of 

DHS’s other components have extensive interactions with the IC, including Immigration and 

Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border 

Protection, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Citizenship 

and Immigration Services.

In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard, a DHS component, is a member of the IC.

Fusion Centers

State and major urban area fusion centers 

serve as focal points within the state and local 

environment for the receipt, analysis, gathering, and sharing of threat-related information 

between the Federal Government and state, 

local, tribal, territorial, and private sector 

partners.

Located in states and major urban areas 

throughout the country, fusion centers are 

uniquely situated to empower front-line law 

enforcement, public safety, fire service, 

emergency response, public health, Critical 

Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR) protection, and private sector security personnel 

to understand local implications of national 

intelligence, thus enabling local officials 

to better protect their communities. Fusion 

centers provide interdisciplinary expertise and 

situational awareness to inform decision-making at all levels of government. They conduct 

analysis and facilitate information sharing 

while assisting law enforcement and homeland 

security partners in preventing, protecting 

against, and responding to crime and terrorism.

Fusion centers are owned and operated by 

state and local entities with support from 

federal partners in the form of deployed personnel, training, technical assistance, exercise 

support, security clearances, connectivity to 

federal systems, technology, and grant funding.
27

Coast Guard protects the vital economic and 

security interests of the United States. The 

Coast Guard is a multi-mission agency with responsibilities including the safety and security 

of the public, our natural and economic resources, the global maritime transportation system, and the integrity of our maritime borders. 

The Coast Guard Intelligence and Criminal 

Investigations Enterprise develops actionable 

intelligence to support the Coast Guard in all 

eleven of its statutory missions.

The Coast Guard fills a unique niche within 

the Intelligence Community. As a result of its 

diverse authorities and missions, the Coast 

Guard maintains broad awareness of the 

maritime environment. As a military service 

operating within the Department of Homeland 

Security, the Coast Guard operates at the intersection between homeland security and national defense. As a law enforcement agency and a 

national intelligence community member, the 

Coast Guard also bridges between these two 

communities. The Coast Guard is also a federal 

regulatory agency with robust interaction with 

industry and regional groups.

The nation depends on the Coast Guard’s access, operations, and expertise in the maritime 

environment. We protect citizens from the sea, 

we protect America from threats delivered by 

sea, and we protect the sea itself.

Interagency Threat Assessment and 

Coordination Group

The ITACG consists of state, local, and tribal 

first responders from around the United States 

and federal intelligence analysts from the 

Department of Homeland Security, Federal 

Bureau of Investigation, and National Counterterrorism Center working to enhance the 

sharing of federal information on counterterrorism, homeland security, and weapons of 

mass destruction with state, local, and tribal 

consumers of intelligence.

Coast Guard

The Coast Guard Intelligence and Criminal 

Investigations Enterprise, as the intelligence 

element of the Coast Guard, provides timely, 

actionable, and relevant intelligence and 

criminal investigative expertise and services to 

shape Coast Guard operations, planning, and 

decisionmaking, and to support national and 

homeland security intelligence requirements. 

As the principal federal agency responsible for 

maritime safety, security, and stewardship, the 

INTERAGENCY THREAT ASSESSMENT AND CO RO

I TANI D ON GROUP
28

Organization

The Assistant Commandant for Intelligence 

and Criminal Investigations is the Intelligence 

Community Element Head for the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard Intelligence and Criminal 

Investigations Enterprise includes the Coast 

Guard Investigative Service, Coast Guard 

Counterintelligence Service, Coast Guard 

Cryptologic Group, Coast Guard Cyber Command, and the Intelligence Coordination 

Center. Actionable intelligence is also provided 

by intelligence staffs on each coast at the two 

Areas—Pacific and Atlantic, Regional Districts, 

and Local Sector Commands, and by a Maritime Intelligence Fusion Centers. 

Department 

of Justice

Drug Enforcement 

Administration

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) 

is responsible for enforcing the controlled 

substance laws and regulations of the United 

States. It brings to the criminal and civil justice system of the United States or any other 

competent jurisdiction, those organizations 

and the principal members of those organizations involved in or facilitating the growing, 

manufacturing, or distribution of controlled 

substances appearing in or destined for illicit 

traffic in the United States. DEA also has 

important responsibilities for the oversight and 
29

enforcement of laws pertaining to controlled 

pharmaceuticals (including, for example, prescription narcotic drugs, such as those derived 

from oxycodone and hydrocodone) under the 

Controlled Substances Act. In addition, DEA 

recommends and supports non-enforcement 

programs aimed at reducing the availability of 

illicit controlled substances on domestic and 

international markets.

DEA has 21 field divisions in the U.S. and 

more than 80 offices in more than 60 countries worldwide.

Office of National Security Intelligence

DEA’s Office of National Security Intelligence 

(ONSI) became a member of the IC in 2006. 

Located at DEA Headquarters in Arlington, 

Virginia, ONSI facilitates full and appropriate intelligence coordination and information 

sharing with other members of the U.S. Intelligence Community and homeland security elements. Its goal is to enhance the U.S.’s efforts 

to reduce the supply of drugs, protect national 

security, and combat global terrorism.

Department 

of Justice 

Federal Bureau of 

Investigation

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as 

an intelligence and law enforcement agency, 

is responsible for understanding threats to 

our national security and penetrating national 

and transnational networks that have a desire and capability to harm the U.S. The FBI 

coordinates these efforts with its IC and law 

enforcement partners. It focuses on terrorist 

organizations, foreign intelligence services, 

Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) proliferators, and criminal enterprises. 

The FBI is headquartered in Washington, D.C. 

It has 56 field offices and more than 400 satellite offices throughout the U.S. The FBI also 

has more than 60 international offices, known 

as Legal Attaches, in embassies worldwide.
30

National Security Branch

The National Security Branch (NSB) oversees 

the FBI’s national security programs. It includes four divisions, plus the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC).

The Counterterrorism Division (CTD) focuses 

on both domestic and international terrorism. 

It oversees the Joint Terrorism Task Forces 

(JTTFs).

The Counterintelligence Division (CD) prevents 

and investigates foreign intelligence activities 

within the U.S. and espionage activities in the 

U.S. and overseas.

The Directorate of Intelligence (DI) is the FBI’s 

intelligence analysis component. It has embedded employees at FBI Headquarters and 

in each field office through Field Intelligence 

Groups (FIGs) and fusion centers.

The Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate 

(WMDD) prevents individuals and groups from 

acquiring WMD capabilities and technologies 

for use against the U.S., and links all operational and scientific/technology components to 

accomplish this mission. 

The Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) was created to consolidate the Government’s approach 

to terrorist screening and create a single comprehensive watch list of known or suspected 

terrorists. The TSC helps ensure that federal, 

local, state, and tribal terrorist screeners have 

ready access to information and expertise.

Joint Terrorism Task Force

Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) are FBIled multi-organization task forces composed 

of local, state, and federal entities. They were 

established by the FBI to conduct operations to 

predict and disrupt terrorist plots. JTTFs are in 

more than 100 cities nationwide; in addition, 

there is at least one in each of the FBI’s 56 

field offices. The National Joint Terrorism Task 

Force (NJTTF), in Washington, D.C., coordinates all the JTTFs.

The National Virtual Translation Center

The National Virtual Translation Center (NVTC) 

was established in 2003 to provide timely 

and accurate translations in support of national security. Its mission includes acting as 

a clearinghouse for facilitating interagency 

use of translators; partnering with elements of 

the U.S. Government, academia, and private 

industry to identify translator resources and engage their services; building a nationwide team 
31

of highly qualified, motivated linguists and 

translators, connected virtually to the program 

office in Washington, D.C.; and applying stateof-the-art technology to maximize translator efficiency. NVTC is a DNI Center, and the Federal 

Bureau of Investigation is its Executive Agent.

Department 

of State

Bureau of Intelligence and 

Research

The Department of State is the lead agency 

for U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy. Its 

intelligence support component is the Bureau 

of Intelligence and Research (INR).

The Bureau of Intelligence and Research provides intelligence support to the Secretary of 

State and other State Department policymakers, including ambassadors, special negotiators, country directors, and desk officers. As 

the senior intelligence official at the State 

Department, INR’s Assistant Secretary ensures 

that intelligence informs policy and that intelligence activities support American diplomatic 

objectives.

INR supports the Secretary of State’s global 

responsibilities by: 

n Analyzing foreign events, issues, and 

trends.

n Coordinating intelligence policy and 

activities.

n Surveying foreign public opinion and 

analyzing foreign media.

n Organizing conferences to benefit from outside expertise, managing the Intelligence 

Community Associate’s Program, and 

administering the Title VIII grant program 

on Eurasian and East European Studies.

n Analyzing foreign humanitarian challenges.

INR has approximately 300 personnel drawn 

principally from the Civil Service and the Foreign Service. 

Department 

of the Treasury

Office of Intelligence 

and Analysis

The Office of Intelligence and Analysis (OIA) 

represents the Department of the Treasury in 

the Intelligence Community and is responsible 

for all intelligence and counterintelligence 
32

activities related to the operations and responsibilities of the Department. It is OIA’s mission 

to advance national security and protect the 

integrity of the financial system by informing 

Treasury decisions with timely, relevant, and 

accurate intelligence and analysis. OIA supports the formulation of policy and the execution of the Treasury Department’s authorities 

by providing expert analysis and intelligence 

production on financial and other support 

networks for terrorist groups, proliferators, and 

other key national security threats. OIA also 

assists departmental customers in maintaining 

situational awareness on the full range of economic, political, and security issues by providing current intelligence support and facilitating 

access to Intelligence Community production 

on strategic issues.

Army

The Department of the Army’s IC component is 

called Army Military Intelligence (Army MI). It 

is fully integrated into Army forces. Army MI’s 

goal is to provide all-source intelligence that is 

relevant, useful, and timely, to the Army and 

other military personnel at all levels.

Organization

The Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2, is the senior 

intelligence officer in the U.S. Army and is 

responsible for Army intelligence activities. 

This includes policy formulation, planning, 

programming, budgeting, management, staff, 

supervision, evaluation, and oversight. As the 

Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2, his or her staff is 

also responsible for coordinating all Army intelligence.

National Ground Intelligence Center

The National Ground Intelligence Center 

(NGIC) produces and disseminates scientific 

and technical intelligence and military capabilities analysis on foreign ground forces required 

by war fighting commanders, the force modernization and research and development communities, Defense Department, and national 

policymakers to ensure that U.S. forces have 

a decisive edge in current and future military 

operations. NGIC, headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, is a major subordinate command 

under the U.S. Army INSCOM. Its mission 

includes irregular and conventional warfare 

analysis examining foreign ground forces from 

a perspective that includes battlefield operating systems, doctrine, tactics, techniques and 

procedures, training, maintenance, logistics 

and order of battle.
33

Intelligence and Security Command

The U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM), the Army’s operational intelligence force, is headquartered at Fort Belvoir, 

Virginia. It is a global command with major 

subordinate commands that tailor their support 

to the specific needs of different theaters of 

operation (e.g. Europe, South America, South 

West Asia). INSCOM’s strategic organization 

of 16,800 Soldiers, civilians, and contractors 

at more than 180 locations around the globe 

ensures that leaders at all levels have access 

to the intelligence information they need, when 

and where they need it.

Navy

Naval Intelligence’s mission is to support maritime operations worldwide in defense of the 

United States. Naval intelligence professionals, 

who are all members of the Information Dominance Community, are deployed throughout the 

Navy and the Department of Defense. 

Organization

The Director of Naval Intelligence is also designated as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations 

for Information Dominance (OPNAV N2/N6) 

and reports to the Chief of Naval Operations 

(CNO).

Office of Naval Intelligence

The Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), headquartered at the National Maritime Intelligence Center (NMIC) in Suitland, Maryland, is 

a major production center for maritime intelligence. It produces intelligence on seaborne 

terrorism, weapons and technology proliferation, and narcotics and smuggling operations. 

ONI also analyzes foreign naval strategies, 

capabilities, operations, characteristics, and 

trends to support Navy, Department of Defense, and national needs. 

ONI and the Coast Guard Intelligence Coordination Center (USCG-ICC) both have a maritime mission, and they share an intelligence 

partnership that started in the early 1970s. 

They are identified as the core element of the 

Global Maritime Intelligence Integration (GMII) 

Plan. That plan is a component of the National 

Strategy for Maritime Security, which was 

signed by the President in late 2005. ONI and 
34

USCG-ICC man an around-the-clock maritime 

watch in the NMIC, which tracks over 18,000 

vessels worldwide.

Air Force

The Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and 

Reconnaissance (AF ISR) is the Air Force’s 

IC component.

Organization

The Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (A2) 

provides policy, oversight, and guidance to all 

Air Force intelligence organizations. 

The Air Force ISR Agency organizes, trains, 

equips, and presents forces to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for combatant commanders and the nation. Air Force 

ISR is also responsible for implementing and 

overseeing policy and guidance, and expanding 

AF ISR capabilities to meet current and future 

challenges. The AF ISR Agency commander 

serves as the Service Cryptologic Element 

under NSA, and oversees Air Force Signals 

Intelligence activities.

The AF ISR Agency has more than 19,000 

military and civilian members serving at 72 

locations worldwide and commands several 

subcomponents, including the 70th ISR Wing, 

The 480th ISR Wing, the 361st ISR Group, 

the Air Force Technical Application Center, and 

the National Air and Space Intelligence Center.

Marine Corps

The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) produces tactical and operational intelligence for battlefield 

support. Its IC component is comprised of all 

intelligence professionals in the Marine Corps. 

Most Marine Corps intelligence professionals 

are integrated into operating forces.

Organization

The Marine Corps’ Director of Intelligence 

(DIRINT) is its principal intelligence staff officer, and is the service’s functional manager for 

intelligence, counterintelligence, and cryptologic matters.
35

Marine Corps Intelligence Activity

Marine Corps Intelligence Activity (MCIA), in 

Suitland, Maryland, and Quantico, Virginia, 

is the USMC service production center. In 

addition, MCIA supports other services as appropriate. It provides the Marine Corps with 

intelligence for planning, training, operations, 

and exercises. MCIA can be tasked to provide 

expeditionary warfare intelligence to support 

any national, theater, or operational command 

in the U.S. Armed Forces. MCIA’s analysis and 

production support not only the Marine Corps, 

but also the national decisionmaker, theater 

commander, and operational warfighter.

MCIA is a major production organization 

for expeditionary intelligence and cultural 

intelligence.
Requirements, 

Planning, and 

Direction

PLANNING, AND

REQUIREMENTS,

DIRECTION
Although most people know of Benjamin Franklin as a prolific inventor, scientist, author, and 

signer of the Declaration of Independence, few 

know that “spy” can be added to the list. He 

served on a number of committees of the Second Continental Congress, including the Committee of Secret Correspondence, which was 

essentially the country’s first foreign intelligence 

directorate. The group employed numerous 

agents abroad and established a secret Navy for 

receipt of information and supplies. Franklin 

also served on another secret committee that 

clandestinely obtained and distributed military 

supplies and sold gunpowder to privateers hired 

by the Continental Congress. 

During a diplomatic mission to France, Franklin 

gathered intelligence, distributed propaganda, 

and coordinated aid from America’s secret allies 

(and also discovered that several of his employees, including a secretary and courier, were, 

unfortunately, British agents).

Franklin also was a crafty propagandist. To 

weaken enemy forces, he reportedly distributed 

leaflets disguised as tobacco packets that promised American land grants to deserting soldiers.

Inventor, Writer, 

Publisher, Diplomat, 

Statesman and...Spy!

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Courtesy of CIA
39

What Intelligence Can (and Cannot) Do

“The United States Intelligence Community must constantly strive for and 

exhibit three characteristics essential to our effectiveness. The IC must be integrated: a team making the whole greater than the sum of its parts. We must 

also be agile: an enterprise with an adaptive, diverse, continually learning, and 

mission-driven intelligence workforce that embraces innovation and takes initiative. Moreover, the IC must exemplify America’s values: operating under the 

rule of law, consistent with Americans’ expectations for protection of privacy 

and civil liberties, respectful of human rights, and in a manner that retains the 

trust of the American people.” 

National Intelligence Strategy 2009 

Requirements, 

Planning and 

Direction

Intelligence can be an extremely powerful tool, 

but it is most useful when the consumer has 

a clear understanding of its limits. With the 

ever-changing laws, policies, capabilities, and 

standards affecting the production and dissemination of intelligence, these general guidelines 

can help consumers know what to expect from 

this valuable resource.
40

What Intelligence Can Do

Intelligence can: 

n Provide an advantage in dealing with foreign adversaries by supplying information 

and analysis that can enhance the intelligence consumer’s understanding.

n Warn of potential threats and opportunities.

n Provide insight into the causes and consequences of current events.

n Enhance situational awareness.

n Assess long-term strategic issues and alternative futures.

n Assist in preparation for international or 

planning meetings.

n Inform official travelers of security threats.

n Report on specific topics, either as part of 

routine reporting or upon request.

n Compile information on persons of interest.

What Intelligence Cannot Do

Predict the Future or Know about Everything

n Intelligence can provide assessments of 

likely scenarios or developments, but it 

cannot provide predictions of what will 

happen with absolute certainty. The IC’s 

resources and capabilities are limited by:

n Numerous priorities competing for 

finite budget dollars, personnel, and 

capabilities.

n Limited access to denied areas.

n Technological limitations of some IC 

systems.

n The IC must maintain its ability to obtain 

useful information.

n The need to protect information and 

intelligence sources and methods 

may limit the sharing or use of some 

reports.

Violate U.S. law or the U.S. Constitution 

The activities of the U.S. IC must be conducted in a manner consistent with all applicable 

laws and Executive Orders (see a listing of Executive Orders in Tab 8). The IC is particularly 

aware of the importance of ensuring:

n Civil liberties and the privacy of U.S. citizens and lawful U.S. residents.

n Confidentiality of sources and the identities of IC personnel and protection of 

privileged information.

n Appropriate conduct of IC personnel and 

activities.
41

Who Uses U.S. Intelligence?

The IC serves a wide range of consumers, both 

within and outside the U.S. Government, with 

the level of intelligence services varying according to the customers’ responsibilities and 

the specific circumstances. The IC’s customers 

include the following:

n The White House, particularly the President, Vice President, and National Security 

Staff.

n Executive Branch Departments and Agencies, including the Departments of State, 

Defense, Homeland Security, the Treasury, 

Energy, Commerce, Justice, and others.

n Military unified commands, services, and 

deployed forces.

n The Intelligence Community itself, for 

IC internal operations, special activities, 

acquisition, and policy support.

n The Legislative and Judicial branches for 

oversight and to inform and protect.

n State, local, tribal and territorial officials, 

especially law enforcement and emergency 

planning and response personnel.

n The U.S. public, including commercial 

entities and academia.

n Allied governments.

n International organizations, especially for 

such activities as treaty monitoring.

Types of Customers

While intelligence users can easily be grouped 

by organization (e.g., Department of State), 

level of seniority (e.g.Assistant Secretary), 

or discipline (such as diplomacy), grouping 

customers according to the purpose to which 

they are applying intelligence (also known as 

a “segment”) is a more useful categorization. 

The segment determines the characteristics 

that will make an intelligence product or 

service effective. A customer may change segments, depending on the specific activity. In 

such cases, the customer’s needs also change. 

For instance customer segments might include 

the following:

National Interagency Action, e.g., Deputy National 

Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism

n Requires coordination of multiple agencies 

or partners.

n Needs to understand what is important to 

each colleague.

Organizational Policy and Decisionmaking, e.g., State 

Department Assistant Secretary for European Affairs

n Focused on a single agency mission.

n Finished, all-source, tailored analysis.
42

n Time sensitivity and need to share vary 

Negotiation, e.g., U.S. Trade Representative 

n Is extremely time sensitive and close hold.

n Raw, tactical, narrow collection reports.

Strategic Resource Deployment and Acquisition, e.g., 

DoD Under Secretary for Acquisition, Technology, and 

Logistics

n Long-range planning.

n The intelligence is often critical to countering an adversary’s capabilities.

n Thorough analysis.

Threat Preparedness and Prevention, e.g., DHS Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection

n Plan to respond to threats or to more fully 

understand potential threats.

n Widely shareable analysis. 

Threat Response and Tactical Deployment, e.g., military forces engaged in combat or a city police force 

responding to an event

n Operational activities.

n Raw, specific, timely collection reports and 

analysis.

Ways to Interact with the Intelligence Community

IC personnel interact with many customers, 

and due to the size and wide range of responsibilities of the IC, many customers work with 

multiple IC personnel, including analysts, 

security and counterintelligence personnel, and 

managers of intelligence operations. Overall, 

the IC interacts with its customers in the following ways:

Supports customers’ decisionmaking and operations by:

n Informing customers of factual developments, generally through dissemination of 

collection reports.

n Processing, aggregating, and interpreting 

facts in light of extensive knowledge to 

ultimately evaluate events and trends.

n Conducting research in response to customers’ specific requests for information.

n Consulting or collaborating with customers 

to more fully understand an issue and to 

provide ongoing expertise.

Works with customers by:

n Apprising customers of ongoing IC operations that might intersect with customers’ 

operations and by playing a supporting role 

in customers’ operations.

n Harvesting information with intelligence 

value that customers collect in the course 

of their normal operations.

n Planning for future collection, analysis, or 

other resource deployment by specifying 
43

and transmitting customers’ requirements 

and priorities.

n Evaluating the effectiveness of IC support 

to improve service to customers.

n Training customers in intelligence, security, and special technologies.

Protects customers by:

n Identifying, deceiving, exploiting, or disrupting efforts aimed against customers by 

hostile intelligence services. 

n Protecting sensitive data by, for example, 

providing secure facilities or granting security clearances.

n Providing secure communications, including information technology for securing 

Sensitive Compartmented Information 

(SCI).

n Providing crisis and consequence management support during national security 

special events and emergencies.

Roles, Responsibilities, and Expectations of 

Customers

Customers themselves play a vital role in ensuring that IC support meets their needs. Good 

communication between the customer and the 

IC, often through the agency intelligence office 

of the customer, will improve intelligence support. For the best possible assistance, customers should:

n Integrate the IC into their operational cycle 

and processes.

n Early integration of the IC into a customer’s operations helps the IC deliver 

better service more quickly.

n Expect intelligence support to be a pushand-pull process.

n The IC should flag emerging issues as 

well as answer customers’ questions as 

they arise.

n Answers to customers’ questions can 

be delivered in various formats (for 

example, in briefs, papers, graphics, 

or simulations) depending on the most 

expedient and effective way to supply 

the information.

n State their requests specifically.
44

n The customer should specify their 

current understanding of an issue or 

problem.

n The customer should specify exactly 

what they need to know.

n The customer should specify the 

context of the request (for example, to 

support a meeting, an event, or decisionmaking).

n Share what they know.

n National security information is everywhere; the IC has no monopoly.

n Shared information can inform opportunity analysis, communicate the 

intended direction of policy or operational endeavors, or options under 

consideration. 

n Share their timeline.

n Customers should specify the factor or 

factors that are influencing the timeline so that the intelligence effort can 

be scoped and scaled accordingly.

n Customers should understand that declassification or downgrading of information takes some time to complete.

n Provide feedback on the utility of IC products and services.

n Customer feedback helps the IC to 

refine its approach.

Intelligence Planning, Programming, 

Budgeting, and Evaluation 

The Assistant Director of National Intelligence 

for Systems and Resource Analyses (ADNI/

SRA) manages the integration and synchronization of the Intelligence Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Evaluation (IPPBE) 

system. This system is employed to effectively 

shape intelligence capabilities through the development of the National Intelligence Program 

(NIP) and budget in a manner consistent with 

the National Intelligence Strategy (NIS). 

The IPPBE process comprises the interdependent phases of planning, programming, 

and budgeting that are linked by the ongoing 

evaluation phase. Each phase is informed and 

guided by the products and decisions of each 

of the other phases:

n Planning: The planning phase identifies 

Director of National Intelligence (DNI) 

strategic priorities and major issues to be 

addressed in the programming phase.

n Programming: The programming phase 

provides options to frame DNI resource 

decisions through analyses of alternatives 

and studies that assess cost-versus-performance benefits.

n Budgeting: The budgeting and execution 

activities are addressed in IPPBE in a 

manner consistent with the policy principles of Intelligence Community Directive 
45

(ICD) 104, with the goal of producing and 

implementing an annual, consolidated NIP 

budget.

n Evaluation: The evaluation phase assesses 

the effectiveness of IC programs, activities, major initiatives, and investments in 

implementing DNI guidance in the context 

of original objectives, measures of effectiveness, metrics, outcomes, benefits, 

shortfalls, and costs. 

The IPPBE system ensures a predictable, 

transparent, and repeatable end-to-end process 

to collect and prioritize critical intelligence 

requirements within the context of the strategic objectives of the DNI and the IC. In addition, the IPPBE framework supports the DNI’s 

participation in the development of the Military 

Intelligence Program (MIP).

Acquisition/Science and Technology: 

Delivering Technical Capabilities

Major System Acquisitions

At any given time, several dozen Major System 

Acquisitions (MSAs) are underway at agencies throughout the IC. MSAs cost hundreds of 

millions or billions of dollars, and they typically take years to develop, build, and deliver. 

MSAs are usually either Platform and Payload 

systems, such as satellites and surveillance 

ships, or information technology (IT) systems, 

including infrastructure (hardware and platforms), applications (automated processes and 

user tools), and human interfaces. Each MSA 

is run by an IC agency team of highly skilled 

professionals, including scientists, technicians, 

engineers, and mathematicians. They manage 

the significant systems engineering effort that 

is required to reliably deliver MSA capabilities.

Intelligence Community Science and Technology

Many IC elements conduct science and technology (S&T) research in their own laboratories, 

and almost all IC elements sponsor research 

conducted by universities, industry, or Department of Energy (DOE) national labs. IC S&T 

leads the world in some areas of research 

specific to IC missions and works with industry 

to develop other new technologies that have 

limited commercial applications. Rather than 

invest research in technologies that industry 

develops for consumers, IC S&T monitors commercial products and looks for ways to adapt 

them to the specific operational and security 

requirements of IC operations. IC S&T research 

can lead directly to IT products, may result in a 

capability within an MSA, or may generate specialty applications, relatively low-cost technologies such as miniaturized tracking or collection 

devices, which are produced in small numbers 

and deployed to address a specific intelligence 

problem. IC S&T also conducts basic research 

into areas such as cryptology and computer 

science, which generate no physical products 

but are essential to intelligence work.
46

Procurement and Contracting

All IC agencies have offices that manage the 

contracts through which the agencies purchase 

mass-produced technologies and manage the 

resources and logistics necessary to support 

the deployment of those technologies into 

operations.

Facilities 

Facilities also provide an essential platform for 

intelligence technologies, from office buildings 

to ground stations to data centers.

Intelligence Community Requirements 

Processes

The established IC requirements processes 

are the primary means for developing, 

documenting, assessing, validating, and approving capability requirements for NIP capabilities that are mission relevant and fiscally 

sound. Two complementary requirements 

processes are used within the IC—the Intelligence Community Capability Requirements 

(ICCR) process, which is used largely for MSAs, 

and the DNI Deputy Director for Intelligence 

Integration (DDII) Requirements Process. 

ICCR Process

The ICCR process applies to all MSA programs 

of special interest as designed by the DNI or 

the Deputy DNI for Acquisition and Technology (DDNI/A&T) that are funded in whole or 

in large part by the NIP. The objectives of the 

ICCE process staff are as follows:

n To ensure that the requirements for all 

NIP-funded MSA programs are validated by the Deputy Executive Committee (DEXCOM) Intelligence Resources 

Board (IRB). 

n To work with the Joint Staff/J8 via a 

“gatekeeper” process on coordinating 

NIP- and MIP-funded programs, and to 

work with IC stakeholders via the Capability Requirements Working Group 

(CRWG).

n To provide and maintain a documented, agile, and transparent process for 

soliciting and approving capabilitybased requirements that leads to 

achievable system developments or 

non-material solutions with a positive 

mission impact for the IC.
47

DDII Requirements Process

The DDII Requirements Process applies to 

those programs that do not meet the MSA or 

special interest threshold. The DDII Requirements Process enables ODNI senior leaders to 

have a single, prioritized list of mission-based 

requirements. 

The process also allows for the consideration 

of all mission-based requirements proposed 

by all stakeholders across the IC. The single, 

validated, prioritized, mission-based, approved 

intelligence requirements list is then used for 

NIP funding purposes. 

The process involves interacting with the 

requesting stakeholders and mission experts 

and uses a common set of prioritization criteria 

to establish the validity of requirements. The 

major steps in the process are analysis and assessment, validation, prioritization, and recommendation of funding strategies. 

The process includes the maintenance of the 

baseline and requirements, including both 

requirements to be funded and requirement on 

the Prioritized Unfunded Requirements List. 

The process also creates output to be used for 

other DNI processes (e.g., SRA, chief information officer [CIO], chief financial officer [CFO]), 

and to evaluate, review, and report on the 

status of requirements until their completion. 

The DDII Requirements Process will be executed to coincide with major budget milestones 

and schedules to ensure that requirements are 

on track with funding cycles. 

Collections Management Overview

Collection management is the process of converting intelligence requirements into collection requirements (see the Glossary of Terms 

for a definition of “collection”), establishing 

priorities, tasking or coordinating with appropriate collection sources or agencies, monitoring the results, and re-tasking, as required. 

Collection management is divided into two 

business areas:

n Collection Requirements Management 

(CRM): CRM is the authoritative development and control of collection, processing, 

exploration, or reporting requirements that 

typically result in either the direct tasking 

of assets over which the collection manager has authority, or the generation of 

tasking requests that are sent to collection 

management authorities at a higher, lower, 

or equivalent level to accomplish the collection mission. 

n Collection Operations Management (COM): 

COM is the authoritative direction, scheduling, and control of specific collection 

operations and associated processing, 

exploitation, and reporting resources. 
48

Essentially, CRM is what gets done in the 

collection cycle, while COM is how it gets 

done. The collection management process is a 

staff activity focused on decisionmaking and 

choices concerning collection request (CRs) 

and requests for information (RFIs) from numerous sources.

A collection manager can be either a requirements expert or an operations expert. The 

collection manager is the individual who 

orchestrates and manages the analysts’ needs 

throughout the collection cycle. A collection manager’s duties include receiving CRs, 

researching intelligence systems, developing 

collection strategies or plans, developing collection requests into collection requirements, 

validating collection requirements, and tracking requirements through the collection cycle 

to determine stakeholders’ satisfaction with the 

outcomes of the requirements.

The CRM process begins when requests are 

identified, logged, and initially processed. The 

entire process involves tracking a request from 

the time of its receipt, validating the request, 

tasking the necessary collectors, confirming 

fulfillment of the requestor’s information need, 

and updating the collection plan.

The availability and capability of collection assets and resources are determined, in part, by 

the exchange of timely data among the operational mission planners and asset managers 

who update intelligence. This data helps the 

RMs to perform a more complete analysis of an 

information request, determine the most effective collection system(s) to fulfill the request, 

and perform a thorough, overall assessment of 

the unit’s organic and non-organic reconnaissance and surveillance support. In addition, 

collection coordination supports the development of a collection strategy, including a coverage plan, selection of sources and selection of 

disciplines, and assessment of the efficiency of 

tasking assets and resources. 

Because CRM is essentially a support function for expediting information collection and 

dissemination, the RM and staff are their own 

best resources for assessing CRM performance. 

Nevertheless, coordination with an all-source 

production facility can facilitate the assessment task.

The COM process is an intelligence staff function that is based on collection tasking and 

mission guidance developed in support of information requirements. COM relies heavily on 

supporting organizations that own and operate 

collection and exploitation assets.

COM involves several tasks, including planning, scheduling, and the control of collections 

operations; execution of collections operations; 

and exploitation and dissemination of collection results.

Collection operations personnel, who typically 

are intelligence operations staff members, 
49

are responsible for detailed planning, tasking, 

scheduling, and control of collection operations. The operations planner reviews mission 

requirements, such as available assets, sensor 

and target range, system timelines, threats, 

weather, and reporting requirements and adjusts the collection plan to reflect the plan of 

operations, including the integration of specific 

reconnaissance requirements. Requirements 

are translated into collection-mission tasking 

orders, which are directed to the asset manager, who is responsible for execution of the 

orders.

The asset manager chooses the equipment, 

platform, and personnel to perform the assigned mission based on such considerations 

as maintenance schedules, training, and 

experience. The operations planner provides 

availability and asset location information, 

while the asset manager provides data related 

to operational constraints and timeliness of 

operations.

Exploitation of collected information at the tactical level is closely associated with management of collection assets and resources. The 

operational staff with collection capabilities 

also controls sensor-specific processing, exploitation, and analysis equipment. The asset 

manager who is responsible for executing the 

collection operation also controls the operation 

of the exploitation element. As such, exploitation is as much a part of the COM function as 

are mission planning and asset management.

Prioritizing Intelligence Issues: The 

National Intelligence Priorities Framework

The National Intelligence Priorities Framework 

(NIPF) is the DNI’s guidance to the IC on the 

national intelligence priorities approved by the 

President.

The NIPF is the DNI’s sole mechanism for establishing national intelligence priorities. The 
50

NIPF consists of:

n Intelligence topics reviewed by the National Security Council Principals Committee 

and approved by the President.

n A process for prioritizing foreign countries 

and non-state actors that are relevant to 

the approved intelligence topics.

n A priorities matrix that reflects consumers’ 

priorities for intelligence support and that 

ensures that long-term intelligence issues 

are addressed. 

The NIPF is updated semiannually in coordination with IC elements, the National Intelligence 

Council, and other internal components of the 

ODNI. Ad hoc adjustments may also be made 

to reflect changes in world events and policy 

priorities.

The ODNI and IC elements use the NIPF to 

guide allocation of collection and analytic 

resources. In addition, IC elements associate intelligence collection requirements and 

analytic production with NIPF priorities, and 

they report to the DNI on their coverage of 

NIPF priorities.
Collection, 

Processing, and 

Exploitation

COLLECTION, 

PROCESSING, AND 

EXPLOITATION
Harriet Tubman is best known for helping slaves to 

escape to safety through the secret network of the 

1800s known as the Underground Railroad. Her 

involvement in intelligence collection during the 

Civil War, however, also is well documented. After 

her last secret rescue mission in 1860, Tubman 

was tapped by Union officials to organize and lead 

spying expeditions behind Confederate enemy lines.

Disguised as a field hand or poor farm wife, she 

led several missions while directing others from 

Union lines. She reported her intelligence to Col. 

James Montgomery, a Union officer commanding 

the Second South Carolina Volunteers, a black unit 

involved in guerrilla warfare activities.

The tactical intelligence Tubman provided to Union 

forces, including identification of enemy supply 

areas and weaknesses in Confederate troop deploy-

ments, was used effectively in military operations. 

When Tubman died in 1913, she was honored with 

a full military funeral in recognition of her intelli-

gence activities during the war.

TUBMAN’s TRIUMPHS

Courtesy of CIA
53

Collection, 

Processing, 

and

Exploitation

Sources of Intelligence

“National Intelligence and the term ‘intelligence related to national security’ 

refer to all intelligence, regardless of the source from which derived and including information gathered within or outside the United States, that pertains, 

as determined consistent with any guidance issued by the President, to more 

than one United States Government agency; and that involves threats to the 

United States, its people, property, or interests; the development, proliferation, 

or use of weapons of mass destruction; or any other matter bearing on United 

States national or homeland security.” 

United States Congress, Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, 

Section 1012, Public Law 108-458, December 17, 2004

MASINT

Measurement and Signatures Intelligence (MASINT) is intelligence produced through quantitative and qualitative analysis of the physical 

attributes of targets and events to characterize 

and identify those targets and events. 

HUMINT

Human Intelligence (HUMINT) is the collection 

of information—either orally or via documentation—that is provided directly by a human 

source. It is the only type of intelligence for 

which collectors speak directly to the sources 
54

of information, control the topic of discussion, and direct the source’s activities. Human 

sources can obtain access to information that 

is not obtainable any other way.

The types of HUMINT range from high-level, 

strategic, national security information, for 

example, to unit-specific information collected 

on the battlefield. As stated HUMINT may also 

be acquired overtly or clandestinely.

In overt collection, the collector meets openly 

with sources as a declared U.S. Government 

representative. Overt collection comprises 

many forms of information collection, including debriefings of persons who have travelled 

to countries of national interest, diplomatic reports from embassies on host-country officials’ 

stated reactions to U.S. policy initiatives, and 

law enforcement reports on criminal activities, 

such as drug trafficking.

Clandestine collection is conducted in secret. 

A clandestine collector must locate a person 

with access to desired information, initiate 

and discreetly develop a relationship with that 

prospective source, and ultimately convince 

the source to divulge secrets. A source may 

or may not be told of his interlocutor’s U.S. 

Government affiliation. After the source is recruited, contact is usually strictly controlled in 

an effort to elude discovery. The recruitment of 

a clandestine human source can take months 

or years, but the leak of a source’s information may immediately eliminate access to that 

source.

GEOINT

Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) is the exploitation and analysis of imagery, imagery intelligence (IMINT) (see the Glossary of Terms), and 

geospatial information to describe, assess, and 

visually depict physical features and geographically referenced activities on the earth.

OSINT

Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) is intelligence produced from publicly available 

information that is collected, exploited, and 

disseminated in a timely manner to an appropriate audience for the purpose of addressing a 

specific intelligence requirement. OSINT draws 

from a wide variety of information and sources, 

including the following: 
55

n Mass Media: Newspapers, magazines, 

radio, television, and other computer-based 

information.

n Public Data: Information derived from 

government reports; official data, such 

as data on budgets and demographics; 

hearings; legislative debates; press conferences, speeches, directories, organizational charts, marine and aeronautical 

safety warnings, environmental impact 

statements, contract awards, and required 

financial disclosures, and other public 

sources. 

n Gray Literature (or Grey Literature): Opensource material that usually is available 

through controlled access for a specific audience. Gray literature may include, but is 

not limited to, research reports, technical 

reports, economic reports, travel reports, 

working papers, discussion papers, unofficial government documents, proceedings, 

preprints, studies, dissertations and theses, trade literature, market surveys, and 

newsletters. The material in gray literature 

covers scientific, political, socioeconomic, 

and military disciplines.

n Observation and Reporting: Information 

of significance, not otherwise available, 

that is provided by, for example, amateur 

airplane spotters, radio monitors, and 

satellite observers. The availability of 

worldwide satellite photography, often in 

high resolution, on the Web (e.g., Google 

Earth) has expanded the public’s ability to 

acquire information formerly available only 

to major intelligence services.

SIGINT

Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) is intelligence 

gathered from data transmissions, including Communications Intelligence (COMINT), 

Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), and Foreign 

Instrumentation Signals Intelligence (FISINT). 

SIGINT includes both raw data and the analysis of that data to produce intelligence. 

n COMINT is intelligence derived from tracking communications patterns and protocols (traffic analysis), establishing links 

between intercommunicating parties or 

groups, and analyzing the meaning of communications. 

n FISINT is information derived from the 

interception of foreign electromagnetic 

emissions associated with the testing and 

operational deployment of non-U.S. aerospace, surface, and subsurface systems 

including, but not limited to, telemetry, 

beaconry, electronic interrogators, and 

video data links. 

n ELINT is information derived primarily 

from electronic signals that do not contain 
56

speech or text (which are considered to be 

COMINT). The most common sources of 

ELINT are radar signals. 

Processing and Exploitation

A substantial portion of U.S. intelligence 

resources is devoted to processing and exploitation—the synthesis of raw data into material 

that is usable by the intelligence analyst—and 

to securing the telecommunications networks 

that carry these data. Various activities fall 

under the category of processing and exploitation including, but not limited to, interpreting imagery; decoding messages; translating 

foreign-language broadcasts; converting telemetry into meaningful measurements; preparing 

information for computer processing, storage, 

and retrieval; and converting HUMINT-based 

reports into more comprehensible content. 
Analysis, 

Production, 

and Feedback

ANALYSIS,

PRODUCTION, 

AND FEEDBACK
Julia Child: LiFE BEFORE French CUISINE

Julia Child is widely credited with bringing 

French cuisine into the American mainstream. But long before she gained fame as 

a cookbook writer and TV personality, she 

enjoyed a dynamic career as an intelligence 

officer.

During WWII, Julia wanted to serve her 

country. Too tall to join the military (she was 

6’2”), Julia volunteered for the Office of 

Strategic Services (OSS), the forerunner of today’s Central Intelligence Agency. She started 

out in the Washington, D.C., headquarters, 

working directly for General William J. Donovan, the head of the OSS. She joined the OSS 

Emergency Sea Rescue Equipment Section, 

where she helped to develop a repellent to 

keep sharks from setting off explosives before 

they reached their target. She also served as 

Chief of the OSS Registry, processing highly 

classified communications.

Julia then met and married Paul Child, an 

OSS officer assigned to the U.S. Information 

Agency in Paris, where Julia embarked on 

her legendary culinary career.

Julia Child’s contributions to her country 

are well remembered and appreciated by 

the OSS family. She died in 2004, two days 

before her 92nd birthday.

Courtesy of CIA
59

Analysis and Production

Intelligence analysts are generally assigned to 

a particular geographic or functional specialty 

area. Analysts obtain information from all 

sources pertinent to their area of responsibility through information collection, processing, 

and forwarding systems. Analysts may tap into 

these systems to obtain answers to specific 

questions or to generate information they may 

need. 

Analysts receive incoming information, evaluate it, test it against other information and 

against their personal knowledge and expertise, 

produce an assessment of the current status 

of a particular area under analysis, and then 

forecast future trends or outcomes. The analyst 

also develops requirements for the collection of 

new information. 

Analysts rarely work alone; they operate within 

a system that includes peer review and oversight by more senior analysts. 

Estimative Language 

When the Intelligence Community uses words 

such as “we judge” or “we assess” (phrases 

that are used synonymously) and “we estimate,” “likely” or “indicate,” the IC is conveying an analytical assessment or judgment. 

Such statements often are based on incomplete or fragmented information and are not to 

be regarded as statements of fact, proof, or absolute knowledge. Some analytical judgments 

are based directly on collected information; 

others are based on assessments that serve as 

building blocks. In either case, the IC does not 

have “evidence” that shows something to be 

factual or that definitely establishes a relationship between two items.

Statements that address the subject of likelihood are intended to reflect the IC’s collective 

estimate of the probability of a development or 

an event occurring.

Analysis,

Production,

and Feeback
60

The IC’s use of the term “unlikely” is not intended to imply that an event definitely will not 

happen. By comparison, the words “probably” 

and “likely” indicate that a greater-than-even 

chance exists of a particular event occurring. 

The IC uses such phrases as “we cannot dismiss,” “we cannot rule out,” and “we cannot 

discount” to refer to an unlikely event whose 

consequences are serious enough that it warrants mentioning. Words such as “may be” and 

“suggest” are used when the IC is unable to 

fully assess the likelihood of an event because 

relevant information is nonexistent, sketchy, or 

fragmented.

The IC also refers to “high,” “moderate,” or 

“low” confidence levels that reflect the scope 

and quality of the information supporting its 

judgments.

n A high confidence level generally indicates 

that the IC’s judgment is based on highquality information or that the circumstances of the analysis enable the IC to 

render a solid judgment.

n A moderate confidence level generally 

indicates that the information being used 

in the analysis may be interpreted in various ways, or that the IC has alternative 

viewpoints on the significance or meaning 

of the information, or that the information 

is credible and plausible but it is not sufficiently corroborated to warrant a higher 

level of confidence.

n A low confidence level generally indicates 

that the information used in the analysis 

is scant, questionable, fragmented, or that 

solid analytical conclusions cannot be inferred from the information, or that the IC 

has significant concerns or problems with 

the information sources.

Analytic Products

Current Intelligence

Current intelligence addresses day-to-day 

events. It details new developments and 

background information related to those developments to assess their significance, warn 

of their near-term consequences, and signal 

potentially dangerous situations in the near 

future. 

Trend Analysis

Trend analysis, also referred to as secondphase reporting, provides information on an 

event or series of events. A trend analysis 

report on an event includes an assessment of 

whether the relevant intelligence on the event 

is reliable, information on similar events, and 

background information to familiarize the 

reader with the issue. Typically, the intelligence 

used in trend analysis is compared with intelligence from other sources and vetted through 

experts within the IC. Second-phase reports are 

much more thorough than current intelligence/
61

first-phase reports and may require weeks or 

months to produce.

Long-Term Assessment

Long-term assessment is also known as thirdphase reporting. It addresses developments 

within a broad-based context, assesses future 

trends and developments, or provides comprehensive, detailed analysis of an ongoing 

issue, a particular system, or some other topic. 

Long-term assessment reports, which can take 

months to produce, may be coordinated with 

experts from across the IC and may include 

projections of future developments. 

Estimative Intelligence

Estimative intelligence uses future scenarios 

and projections of possible future events to assess potential developments that could affect 

U.S. national security. By addressing the implications of a range of possible outcomes and 

alternative scenarios, estimative intelligence 

helps policymakers to think more strategically 

about long-term threats.

Warning Intelligence

Warning intelligence “sounds an alarm” for 

policymakers. This type of intelligence conveys 

a sense of urgency and implies a possible need 

to respond with policy action. Warning intelligence includes the identification or forecasting of events, such as coups, third-party wars, 

or refugee situations, that would warrant the 

engagement of U.S. military forces or that 

would have a sudden and detrimental effect on 

U.S. foreign policy concerns. Warning analysis 

involves the exploration of alternative futures 

and low-probability/high-impact scenarios.

Research Intelligence

Research intelligence includes research studies that support both current and estimative 

intelligence.

Scientific and Technical Intelligence

Scientific and technical Intelligence includes 

an examination of the technical development, 

characteristics, performance, and capabilities of foreign technologies, including weapon 

systems and subsystems. This category of 

intelligence covers a spectrum of scientific 

disciplines, technologies, weapon systems, and 

integrated operations.

Classification

Certain information must be kept in confidence 

to protect U.S. citizens, institutions, homeland 

security, and U.S. interactions with foreign 

nations. The IC, in accordance with Executive 

Order (EO) 13526, classifies information (that 

is not Unclassified) as Confidential, Secret, or 

Top Secret. Classification may be applied only 

to information that is owned by, produced by or 

for, or is under the control of the U.S. Government. Section 1.4 of E.O. 13526 discusses 

classification techniques.
62

In EO 13526, classification levels are defined 

as follows:

n Top Secret: Unauthorized disclosure of the 

information could be expected to cause 

exceptionally grave damage to the national 

security.

n Secret: Unauthorized disclosure of the 

information could be expected to cause 

serious damage to the national security.

n Confidential: Unauthorized disclosure of 

the information could be expected to cause 

damage to the national security. 

At the time that material is classified, the 

original classification authority must establish 

a specific date or event for declassification. 

When that date is reached or when the event 

occurs, the information is automatically declassified. Unless an earlier date or event can 

be specified, declassification must be marked 

for 10 years from the date of classification, or 

up to 25 years from the date of classification, 

depending on the circumstances. Upon review, 

the original classification may be extended for 

up to 25 additional years, the classification 

may be changed, or specific portions of the 

classified information may be reclassified. No 

information may remain classified indefinitely.

Information may not be classified or be maintained as classified information in order to:

n Conceal violations of law, inefficiency, or 

administrative error;

n Prevent embarrassment to a person, 

organization, or agency; 

n Restrain competition; or

n Prevent or delay the release of information that does not require protection in the 

interest of the national security.

Basic scientific research information not 

clearly related to the national security may not 

be classified.

Access to Classified Information

As stated in EO 13526, a person may have access to classified information provided that:

n A favorable determination of eligibility for 

access has been made by an agency head 

or the agency head’s designee (i.e., the 

person has been granted an appropriate 

security clearance);

n The person has signed an approved nondisclosure agreement; and 

n The person has a need-to-know the 

information.

Review and Release

Due to the need to protect the identity of 

information sources and due to the potential 

implications of the results of IC analysis, most 
63

intelligence reports are classified. Classification of intelligence reports can limit the customer’s ability to use them, particularly when 

they are interacting with individuals outside 

the U.S. Government. In recognition of the 

importance of making intelligence useful to its 

customers, the IC has established procedures 

to allow for appropriate release of intelligence. 

General guidelines for the release of intelligence include the following: 

n Some intelligence can be shared through 

foreign disclosure, some through discretionary release by the IC, and some 

through the Freedom of Information 

Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. Section 552) with 

redactions.

n Different categories of review and release requests are handled differently. 

Some categories are handled collaboratively with the requestor, while others 

are handled strictly through internal IC 

processes.

n The IC is working to maximize discoverability, by the by the IC and USG, of 

information and utility of intelligence 

products.

n The originators of the information will 

consider many factors, including:

n The impact of release of the 

information.

n The sensitivity and vulnerability of the 

information source or method.

n The uniqueness or traceability of the 

information source.

n The effect on external relationships.

n Specific wording may determine whether 

the information is releasable.

n Less specific language and attributes 

are more likely to be approved for 

release.

n The identification of the information 

source is often the most sensitive 

information in a report.

n The intended audience has an impact on 

the decision.

n Is the intelligence being released to 

a federal department, a state police 

agency, a foreign liaison service, a foreign official, or to the public or news 

media?

n “Publicly Available” does not necessarily 

mean “Officially Acknowledged.”

n The IC complies with the FOIA as written. 5 U.S.C. Section 552, as amended, 

provides that any person has the right to 

obtain access to federal agency records, 

except to the extent that those records, or 

portions of them, are protected from public 

disclosure by one of the nine exemptions 

allowed under FOIA.
64

n The IC classifies and declassifies national 

security information in accordance with 

EO 13526. Information shall not be considered for classification unless its 

unauthorized disclosure could reasonably 

be expected to cause identifiable or describable damage to the national security.
Organizational

Oversight

ORGANIZATIONAL

OVERSIGHT
THE CIPHER DI

SK

The cipher disk is a deceptively simple cryptographic 

tool invented around 1470 by an Italian architect. 

Although the tool has been “re-invented” a number 

of times over the centuries, the basic concept of the 

cipher disk remains much the same. It consists of 

two concentric disks marked with letters, numbers, 

and other symbols around the edge of each disk. 

The smaller disk, which is mounted on the stationary 

larger disk, can be moved to create a crypto-

graphic key. 

The appeal of the cipher disk lies in the 

fact that messages can be enciphered 

and deciphered without the need 

for bulky or compromising written 

materials. The cipher disk first 

came into large-scale use in 

the United States during the 

Civil War. About a half-cen-

tury later, the U.S. Army 

adopted a version of the 

device, which used both a 

standard and a “reversestandard” alphabet. 

The two disks may be 

left in the same setting 

to create an entire mes-

sage, thereby producing 

the simplest possible 

cryptogram, or the setting 

may be changed with every 

letter of the message to 

create an extremely secure 

cipher.

Courtesy of NSA
67

Oversight

Joint Intelligence Community Council

The National Security Act of 1947, as amended, establishes the Joint Intelligence Community Council (JICC), which consists of the 

Director of National Intelligence (DNI) (chair), 

Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, 

Secretary of Defense, U.S. Attorney General, 

Secretary of Energy, and Secretary of Homeland Security. The JICC advises the DNI on 

establishing requirements, developing budgets, 

and managing financial matters; assists the 

DNI in monitoring and evaluating the performance of the Intelligence Community (IC); 

and ensures the timely execution of programs, 

policies, and directives established or developed by the DNI. The JICC is the most senior 

executive body for managing the IC. The JICC 

typically meets semiannually.

Executive Committee

For more routine management and governance of the IC, the DNI has established the 

IC Executive Committee (EXCOM), which is 

chaired by the DNI and composed of the heads 

of all 17 IC members plus the Under Secretary 

of Defense for Intelligence, the Joint Chiefs 

of Staff Director for Intelligence (J-2), the 

Principal Deputy DNI, and the Deputy DNI for 

Intelligence Integration. The EXCOM’s role is 

to advise and support the DNI in the leadership, governance, and management of the 

IC, including advising the DNI on IC policies, 

objectives, and priorities and ensuring the IC’s 

capability to fulfill its mission. 

Deputy Executive Committee

Issues that the EXCOM addresses are often 

handled by its subordinate body, the IC Deputy 

Organizational

Oversight
68

Executive Committee (DEXCOM), which is 

chaired by the Principal Deputy DNI and 

is composed of the deputy heads of the 17 

intelligence organizations plus the Deputy 

Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, 

the Deputy Director of Intelligence of the 

Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Deputy DNI for 

Intelligence Integration.

Legislative Oversight

The U.S. Congress has long overseen national 

intelligence activities. From the 1940s on, 

the Armed Services Committees and Appropriations Committees of the U.S. House of 

Representatives and U.S. Senate have exercised responsibility for oversight of national 

intelligence activities, although those operations were typically discrete and hidden from 

the public eye.

On May 19, 1976, the U.S. Senate established the Senate Select Committee 

on Intelligence (SSCI). The U.S. House of 

Representatives followed suit on July 14, 

1977, by creating the House Permanent Select 

Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI). These 

committees, along with the Armed Services 

and the Foreign Relations and Foreign Affairs 

Committees, were charged with authorizing the 

programs of the intelligence organizations and 

overseeing their activities.

The 1980 Intelligence Oversight Act set forth 

the current oversight structure by establishing 

the SSCI and HPSCI as oversight committees for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). 

Within the U.S. Congress, these committees 

are responsible for producing Intelligence 

Authorization bills, which proscribe certain 

activities of the IC. The SSCI also provides advice and consent on the nominations of certain 

presidentially appointed intelligence officials.

The Appropriations Committees, given their 

constitutional role to appropriate funds for all 
69

U.S. Government activities, also exercise oversight of intelligence activities. Specifically, the 

House and Senate appropriations subcommittees for defense produce annual appropriations 

for national and military intelligence activities 

via the Defense Appropriations Act. 

These authorization and appropriations committees are the principal Congressional recipients of IC products, briefings, notifications, 

and reprogramming requests. These committees routinely conduct hearings on budgetary 

and other oversight matters. 

Other Congressional committees interact with 

the IC as needed.

National Security Council

The National Security Council (NSC) was 

established by the National Security Act of 

1947. The NSC is the President’s forum for 

discussion and examination of national security 

and foreign policy matters with the President’s 

senior national security advisors and cabinet 

officials. The NSC also serves as the President’s principal arm for coordinating foreign 

policy matters among various government organizations. The NSC is chaired by the President. 

Its regular attendees (both statutory and nonstatutory) include the Vice President, Secretary 

of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary 

of Defense, and Assistant to the President for 

National Security Affairs. The Chairman of the 

Joint Chiefs of Staff is the statutory military 

advisor to the NSC, and the Director of National Intelligence is the intelligence advisor to 

the NSC. The Chief of Staff to the President, 

Counsel to the President, and Assistant to the 

President for Economic Policy are invited to 

attend any NSC meeting. Other senior officials 

are invited to attend meetings of the NSC as 

appropriate. 

The NSC drafts, coordinates, and approves National Security Presidential Directives (NSPDs), 

which are instruments for communicating 

Presidential decisions about U.S. national 

security policy.

President’s Intelligence Advisory Board

The President’s Intelligence Advisory Board 

(PIAB) and Intelligence Oversight Board (IOB) 

are tasked with providing the President with an 

independent source of advice on the effectiveness of the IC in meeting the nation’s intelligence needs and the vigor and insight of the IC 

plans for the future. The PIAB provides advice 

to the President concerning the quality and adequacy of intelligence collection, intelligence 

analysis and estimates, counterintelligence, 

and other intelligence activities. Because the 

PIAB is independent of the IC and free from 

any day-to-day IC management or operational 

responsibilities, it is able to objectively render 

opinions on the sorts of intelligence that will 

best serve the country and the organizational 

structure most likely to achieve IC goals. 
70

The IOB, a committee of the PIAB, informs 

the President of intelligence activities that 

it believes may be unlawful or contrary to an 

Executive Order (EO) or presidential directive 

and that are not being adequately addressed by 

the Attorney General, the DNI, or the head of 

a department concerned. The IOB also informs 

the President of intelligence activities that it 

believes should be reported to the President 

immediately. 

The PIAB may consist of up to 16 individuals who are not full-time employees of the 

U.S. Government. The Board has been known 

as the PIAB since 2008 when the President 

signed EO 13462. Previously, it was known as 

the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory 

Board (PFIAB) under EO 12863, a predecessor 

Executive Order.

Office of the Inspector General

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) 

conducts independent investigations, audits, 

inspections, and special reviews of IC programs 

and activities that are the responsibility of and 

under the authority of the DNI to detect and 

deter waste, fraud, abuse, and misconduct, 

and to promote integrity, economy, efficiency, 

and effectiveness in the IC. The Inspector 

General for the IC leads the OIG, chairs the IC 

Inspectors General Forum, receives and investigates allegations of IC activities constituting a 

violation of laws, rules, or regulations; mismanagement; gross waste of funds; abuse of 

authority; or a substantial and specific danger 

to the public health and safety. The Inspector General for the IC accepts and processes 

notifications from IC employees or contractors 

who are intending to report an urgent concern 

to the U.S. Congress. 

Financial Management and Oversight

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) provides the DNI 

with a significant amount of authority over the 

IC’s budget development and ensuring the effective execution of that budget.

The National Intelligence Program (NIP), 

formerly known as the National Foreign Intelligence Program (NFIP), provides the resources 

needed to develop and maintain intelligence 

capabilities that support national priorities. 

The Joint Military Intelligence Program and 

the Tactical Intelligence and Related Activities 

program were combined in 2005 to form the 

Military Intelligence Program (MIP). The MIP 

funds the specific intelligence needs of the 

Department of Defense and tactical forces. The 

MIP is controlled by the Secretary of Defense, 

and the DNI participates in the development of 

the MIP. 
71

Equal Employment Opportunity 

and Diversity 

IC EEOD serves as the principal advisor to 

the DNI and IC senior leaders on issues that 

impact diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity across the IC. The Office is responsible 

for developing, implementing, and measuring 

performance against the five-year IC EEO and 

Diversity Strategic Plan and overseeing and 

setting IC-wide policy guidance for the development and implementation of IC agency and 

component plans linked to that strategy. The 

office also advises ODNI and IC senior leaders 

on highly sensitive, confidential personnel concerns and matters. In addition to its IC-wide 

responsibilities, IC EEOD is also responsible 

for providing EEO and diversity services to 

the ODNI workforce, including managing the 

EEO complaints process, Alternative Dispute 

Resolution activities, reasonable accommodations, workplace climate, and behavior interventions. 

Aggrieved persons who believe they have 

been discriminated against must contact an 

agency EEO counselor prior to filing a formal 

complaint. The person must initiate counselor 

contact within 45 days of the matter alleged to 

be discriminatory.

Civil Liberties and Privacy Office

The Civil Liberties and Privacy Office (CLPO) is 

responsible for ensuring that civil liberties and 

privacy protections are appropriately incorporated into the policies and procedures of the IC. 

The CLPO also reviews, assesses, and investigates complaints and information indicating 

possible abuses of civil liberties and privacy in 

the administration of programs or in the operations of the ODNI. 

To effectively use the tools and information 

that are needed for national safety and security, the IC must have the trust of the U.S. 

public and continually demonstrate that it is 

worthy of that trust. Through a framework of 

laws, policies, and oversight and compliance 

mechanisms, the CLPO works within the entire 

IC to maintain the public’s trust by safeguarding the freedoms, civil liberties, and privacy 

rights guaranteed to all U.S. persons. 
Careers in the

Intelligence

Community

CAREERS IN THE 

INTELLIGENCE 

COMMUNITY
During the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, the most 

destructive hurricane season on record, the National 

Geospatial-Intelligence agency responded with what 

then NGA director, James R. Clapper, called the best 

work by an intelligence agency that he had seen in his 

42 years in the intelligence business. 

The NGA’s assistance to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts began before the first waves hit the Louisiana 

shore on August 29, 2005. For first responders and 

relief organizations, the agency provided scores of 

graphics depicting the locations of major airports, 

hospitals, police and fire stations, emergency operations centers, hazardous materials, highways, and 

schools based on imagery from commercial and U.S. 

Government satellites and American military airborne 

platforms. 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane 

Rita, which struck the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana in September 2005, NGA forward-deployed more 

than two dozen analysts and two Mission Integrated 

Geospatial-Intelligence Systems (MIGS) to the affected areas to provide timely, on-site support.

Hurricane Assistance

Courtesy of NGA
75

THE BENEFITS OF WORKING IN THE IC

The U.S. Intelligence Community offers the 

following benefits to personnel within the IC 

and to individuals considering a career within 

the IC: 

n A profession with a meaningful connection to protecting the United States and its 

citizens.

n Diverse work environments and corporate 

cultures with all members of the IC working toward a common goal.

n Work opportunities in almost every professional field imaginable.

The IC has been repeatedly recognized as one 

of the “Best Places to Work in the Federal 

Government” in an independent analysis sponsored by the Partnership for Public Service and 

the American University Institute for the Study 

of Public Policy Implementation (http://bestplacestowork.org/BPTW/rankings/). 

There are multiple pathways into the IC, as 

the following graphic indicates. Another key 

pathway is the Intelligence Community Centers 

of Academic Excellence (CAE) Program (www.

dni.gov/cae).

A diverse workforce is critical to the IC’s success. An essential component of intelligence 

is an understanding of people and cultures 

that differ from those of the United States and 

knowledge of other areas around the world. As 

such, the IC seeks individuals of all ages and 

ethnic backgrounds with diverse skills and 

educational experiences to fill positions across 

the IC. Hiring incentives and special pay scales 

are also available for those with certain foreign 

language skills, cultural expertise, and other 

critical skills and experience.

Careers in the

Intelligence

Community
76

Another pathway to a career with the IC is the 

IC Wounded Warrior program. Wounded Warriors, many of whom already possess the skills 

and experience that the IC seeks, are recruited 

through IC-wide internship fairs and other IC 

Agency-based initiatives. Wounded Warriors 

may obtain internships across the IC that lead 

to full-time employment and an opportunity to 

serve Agencies that will benefit from their discipline and experience. See www.intelligence.

gov/woundedwarrior for more information on 

the program.

The 17 agencies that form the IC include 

staffed offices in all 50 states and around the 

world. The men and women in these offices 

collect and analyze information, translate 

foreign-language documents, develop new 

intelligence technologies, design software and 

hardware, write reports for the President, manage the IC’s people, programs, and processes, 

and perform many more important activities. 

U.S. citizenship is required for employment 

with the IC. An extensive background investigation, which includes drug screening, must 

be successfully completed for all job applicants prior to their being hired into the IC. 

Some positions may also require medical and 

psychological examination and a polygraph 

interview. The IC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. To find out more 

about IC careers and employment opportunities, visit www.intelligence.gov. 

Scholarships Scholarships & Financial Aid

Co-op Education Programs

Part Time Internships

Fellowships

ROTC Programs

Highly Qualied Experts Career Changers

COLLEGE

MILITARY

PRIVATE SECTOR
References

REFERENCES
On November 20, 1965, the Central Intelligence Agency completed flight testing on the A-12, the fastest and highest-flying jet 

aircraft yet to be built. It flew for 74 minutes at 90,000 feet at a 

sustained speed of Mach 3.2 and a peak speed of Mach 3.29. 

The A-12 program (code named “Oxcart”) was a successor to the 

U-2, the CIA’s first high-altitude strategic reconnaissance aircraft. 

The U-2 was built to fly deep inside the Soviet Union, but it was 

soon vulnerable to Soviet air defenses—a problem demonstrated 

when the U-2 flown by Francis Gary Powers was downed by a 

surface-to-air missile. Lockheed Corporation’s advanced design 

facility, nicknamed the “Skunk Works,” submitted a design for a 

new reconnaissance aircraft that would fly too high and too fast to 

be intercepted by the Soviets. 

But by the time the A-12 went into production, Soviet air defenses 

had advanced enough that even an aircraft flying faster than a bullet at the edge of space would be vulnerable. The CIA successfully 

deployed the A-12 to Asia, where it flew 29 missions in 1967 and 

1968. Eight deactivated A-12s are on display at museums around 

the United States, and one is at CIA Headquarters. 

CODE NAME “OXCART”: 

the supersonic A-12

Courtesy of CIA
79

Glossary of Terms 

A

Access: The means, ability, or permission to 

approach, enter, or use a resource. 

Actionable: (1) Information that is directly 

useful to customers for immediate exploitation 

without requiring the full intelligence production process; actionable information may 

address strategic or tactical needs, support 

of U.S. negotiating teams, or actions dealing 

with such matters as international terrorism or 

narcotics. (2) Intelligence and information with 

sufficient specificity and detail that explicit 

responses based on that information can be 

implemented. 

All-Source Intelligence: Intelligence information derived from several or all of the 

intelligence disciplines, including SIGINT, 

HUMINT, MASINT, OSINT, and GEOINT. 

Analysis: The process by which information is 

transformed into intelligence; a systematic examination of information to identify significant 

facts, make judgments, and draw conclusions. 

C

Classification: The determination, in the interest of national security, that official information requires a specific degree of protection 

against unauthorized disclosure, coupled with 

a designation signifying that such a determination has been made; the designation is typically called a “security classification,” which 

includes CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET, and TOP 

SECRET classification levels. 

Collection: The identification, location, and 

recording and storing of information— typically 

from an original source and using both human 

and technological means—for input into the 

References
80

Intelligence Cycle for the purpose of meeting a 

defined tactical or strategic intelligence goal. 

Communications Intelligence (COMINT): The 

capture of information, either encrypted or in 

“plaintext,” exchanged between intelligence 

targets or transmitted by a known or suspected 

intelligence target for the purpose of tracking 

communications patterns and protocols (traffic 

analysis), establishing links between intercommunicating parties or groups, or analysis of the 

substantive meaning of the communication. 

COMINT is a sub-discipline of SIGINT. 

Confidential: A security classification designating information that, if made public, could be 

expected to cause damage to national security. 

Consumer: An authorized person who uses intelligence or intelligence information directly in 

the decisionmaking process or to produce other 

intelligence. 

Counterintelligence: Information gathered 

and activities conducted to identify, deceive, 

exploit, disrupt, or protect against espionage, 

other intelligence activities, sabotage, or assassinations conducted for or on behalf of foreign 

powers, organizations, or persons or their 

agents, or international terrorist organizations 

or activities. 

Counterterrorism: The practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies adopted to prevent or 

respond to terrorist threats or acts, both real 

and suspected. 

Covert Action/Operation: Activity or activities 

of the United States Government to influence 

political, economic, or military conditions 

abroad, where it is intended that the role of 

teh United States Government will not be apparent or acknowledges publicly, but does not 

include activities the primary purpose of which 

is to aquire intelligence, traditional counterintelligence activities, traditional diplomatic or 

military activities, or traditional law enforcemnt 

activities.

D

Deployment: The short-term assignment of 

personnel to address specific problems or demands related to national security. 

E

Electronic Intelligence (ELINT): (1) Information derived primarily from electronic signals 

that do not contain speech or text (which are 

considered to be COMINT). (2) Information 

obtained for intelligence purposes from the interception of electromagnetic non-communications transmissions by other than the intended 

recipient. The most common sources of this 

type of information are radar signals. ELINT is 

a sub-discipline of SIGINT. 

Exploitation: The process of obtaining intelligence information from any source and taking 

advantage of it for intelligence purposes. 
81

F

Foreign Instrumentation Signals Intelligence 

(FISINT): Information derived from the interception of foreign electromagnetic emissions 

associated with the testing and operational 

deployment of non-U.S. aerospace, surface, 

and subsurface systems including, but not 

limited to, telemetry, beaconry, electronic 

interrogators, and video data links. FISINT is a 

sub-discipline of SIGINT. 

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): The Freedom 

of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, enacted in 

1966, statutorily provides that any person has 

a right, enforceable in court, to access federal 

agency records, except to the extent that such 

records (or portions thereof) are protected from 

disclosure by one of nine exemptions or three 

exclusions. 

Fusion Center: A collaborative effort of two or 

more agencies that provide resources, expertise, and information to a center with the goal 

of maximizing the ability to detect, prevent, 

investigate, and respond to criminal and terrorist activity. State and major urban area fusion 

centers are recognized as a valuable information-sharing resource. They are the focus, but 

not exclusive points, within the state and local 

environments for the receipt and sharing of terrorism information, homeland security information, and law enforcement information related 

to terrorism. 

G

Geospatial Intelligence: Intelligence derived 

from the exploitation of imagery and geospatial 

information to describe, assess, and visually 

depict physical features and geographically 

referenced activities on the earth. 

H

Homeland Security Information: Any information possessed by an SLTT or federal agency 

that relates to (1) a threat of terrorist activity; 

(2) the ability to prevent, interdict, or disrupt terrorist activity; (3) the identification or 

investigation of a suspected terrorist or terrorist 

organization or any person, group, or entity associated with or assisting a suspected terrorist 

or terrorist organization; or (4) a planned or 

actual response to a terrorist act. 

I

Imagery Intelligence (IMINT): Intelligence that 

includes representations of objects reproduced 

electronically or by optical means on film, electronic display devices, or other media. Imagery 

can be derived from visual photography, radar 

sensors, infrared sensors, lasers, and electrooptics. 

Intelligence Analyst: A professional intelligence 

officer who is responsible for performing, coordinating, or supervising the collection, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence. 
82

Intelligence Community: A federation of Executive Branch agencies and organizations that 

work separately and together to conduct intelligence activities necessary for the conduct of 

foreign relations and the protection of U.S. national security. These organizations are (in alphabetical order): Air Force Intelligence, Army 

Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, Coast 

Guard, Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Justice, Department of Homeland 

Security, Department of State, Department of 

the Treasury, Office of the Director of National 

Intelligence, Drug Enforcement Administration, 

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Marine Corps 

Intelligence, National Geospatial-Intelligence 

Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, National Security Agency, and Navy Intelligence. 

Intelligence Cycle: The steps through which 

information is converted into intelligence and 

made available to users. The cycle typically 

includes six steps: planning and direction, collection, processing and exploitation, analysis 

and production, dissemination, and evaluation. 

Intelligence Mission: The role that the intelligence function of an agency fulfills in support 

of the overall mission of the agency; the intelligence mission specifies in general language 

what the intelligence function is intended to 

accomplish. 

Intelligence Officer: A professional employee of 

an intelligence organization engaged in intelligence activities. 

Intelligence Products: Reports or documents 

that contain assessments, forecasts, associations, links, and other outputs from the 

analytic process. 

Intelligence Requirement: The need to collect 

intelligence information or to produce intelligence, either general or specific, on a particular subject.

J 

Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF): A JTTF is a coordinated “action arm” for federal, state, and 

local government response to terrorist threats 

in specific U.S. geographic regions. The FBI is 

the lead agency that oversees the JTTFs. 

M

Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT): Technically derived intelligence data 

other than imagery and SIGINT. The data results in intelligence that locates, identifies, or 

describes distinctive characteristics of targets. 

It employs a broad group of disciplines including nuclear, optical, radio frequency, acoustics, 

seismic, and materials sciences. 
83

N

National Intelligence: National Intelligence 

and the term “intelligence related to national 

security” refer to all intelligence, regardless of 

the source from which it is derived and including information gathered within or outside the 

United States that pertains, as determined to 

be consistent with any guidance issued by the 

President, to (1) more than one U.S. Government agency and that involves threats to the 

United States, its people, property, or interests; 

(2) the development, proliferation, or use of 

weapons of mass destruction; or (3) any other 

matter bearing on U.S. national or homeland 

security. Source: Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, Section 1012, 

Public Law 108-458, December 17, 2004.

National Intelligence Council (NIC): The NIC is 

the IC’s council for midterm and long-term 

strategic thinking. Its primary functions are to 

support the Director of National Intelligence, 

provide a focal point for policymakers to task 

the IC to answer their questions, reach out to 

nongovernment experts in academia and the 

private sector to broaden the IC’s perspective, 

contribute to the IC’s effort to allocate its resources to policymakers’ changing needs, and 

lead the IC’s efforts to produce National Intelligence Estimates and other NIC products. 

National Intelligence Estimate (NIE): NIEs are 

produced by the National Intelligence Council. 

NIEs express the coordinated assessment of 

the IC and, thus, represent the most authoritative assessment of the DNI with respect to a 

particular national security issue. NIEs contain 

the coordinated judgment the IC regarding the 

probable course of future events. 

O

Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT): Publicly available information appearing in print or electronic form, including information from radio, 

television, newspapers, journals, the Internet, 

commercial databases, and videos, graphics, 

and drawings used to enhance intelligence 

analysis and reporting. 

P

Privacy Act: The Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 

552a, establishes a code of fair information 

practices that governs the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of personally 

identifiable information about individuals that 

is maintained in systems of records by federal 

agencies. A system of records is a group of 

records under the control of an agency from 

which information is retrieved by an individual’s name or by some other identifier assigned 

to the individual. The Privacy Act requires that 

agencies provide public notice of their systems 

of records through publication in the Federal 

Register. The Privacy Act prohibits the disclosure of information from a system of records 
84

absent the written consent of the individual 

who is the subject of the information search, 

unless the disclosure is pursuant to one of 

12 statutory exceptions. The Privacy Act also 

provides individuals with a means by which 

to seek access to and amend their records 

and sets forth various agency record-keeping 

requirements. 

R

Raw Data: Bits of collected data that individually convey little or no useful information and 

must be collated, aggregated, or interpreted to 

provide meaningful information. 

Raw Intelligence: A colloquial term meaning 

collected intelligence information that has not 

yet been converted into finished intelligence. 

S

Secret: Information that, if it is made public, 

could be expected to cause serious damage to 

national security.

Signals Intelligence (SIGINT): Intelligence derived from signals intercepts comprising, individually or in combination, all communications 

intelligence (COMINT), electronic intelligence 

(ELINT), and/or FISINT. 

Source: A document, interview, or other means 

by which information has been obtained. From 

an intelligence perspective, sources are individuals (or HUMINT) who collect or possess 

critical information needed for intelligence 

analysis. 

T

Threat: (1) A source of unacceptable risk. (2) 

The capability of an adversary coupled with the 

adversary’s intention to undertake actions that 

would be detrimental to the success of certain 

activities or operations. 

Top Secret: Information that, if it is made public, could be expected to cause exceptionally 

grave damage to national security. 

U

Unauthorized Disclosure: A communication or 

physical transfer, usually of sensitive but unclassified information or classified information, 

to an unauthorized recipient. 

Unclassified: Information not subject to a 

security classification; that is, information not 

classified CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET, or TOP 

SECRET. Although unclassified information is 

not subject to a security classification, there 

may still be limits on its disclosure. 

W 

Warning: To issue an advance notification of 

possible harm or victimization following the receipt of information or intelligence concerning 

the possibility of a crime or terrorist attack. 
85

Acronyms and 

Abbreviations

A

A2: Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, 

Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (Air Force)

ADNI/SRA: Assistant Director of National Intelligence for Systems and Resource Analyses 

C

CAE: Center of Academic Excellence 

CD: Counterintelligence Division

CFO: Chief Financial Officer

CI: Counterintelligence 

CIA: Central Intelligence Agency 

CIKR: Clinical Infrastructure and Key Resources

CIO: Chief Information Officer

CLPO: Civil Liberties and Privacy Office 

COM: Collection Operations Management

CNO: Chief of Naval Operations

CNO: Computer Network Operations

COMINT: Communications Intelligence 

CSS: Central Security Service

CR: Collection Request

CRM: Collection Requirements Management

CRWG: Capability Requirements Working Group

CTD: Counterterrorism Division 

D

DA: Directorate for Analysis

D/CIA: Director Central Intelligence Agency 

(formerly DCI) 

DCHC: Defense Counterintelligence and Human 

Intelligence Center

DDII: Deputy Director Intelligence Integration

DDNI: Deputy DNI Director for Intelligence 

Integration

DDNI/A&T: Deputy DNI for Acquisition and 

Technology

DEA: Drug Enforcement Administration 

DEXCOM: Deputy Executive Committee

DHS: Department of Homeland Security 

DI: Directorate of Intelligence 

DIA: Defense Intelligence Agency 

DIAC: Defense Intelligence Analysis Center

DIRINT: Director of Intelligence

DNI: Director of National Intelligence

DoD: Department of Defense 
86

DoDIIS: Department of Defense Intelligence 

Information System

DOE: Department of Energy 

DS: Directorate for Information Management 

and Chief Information Officer

DS&T: Directorate of Science and Technology

DT: Directorate for MASINT and Technical Collection

DT: Domestic Terrorism 

DTRA: Defense Threat Reduction Agency

E

ELINT: Electronic Intelligence 

EO: Executive Order 

EXCOM: Executive Committee

F

FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation 

FIG: Field Intelligence Group

FISA: Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act 

FISINT: Foreign Instrumentation Signals Intelligence 

FOIA: Freedom of Information Act 

FOUO: For Official Use Only 

G 

GDIP: General Defense Intelligence Program

GEOINT: Geospatial Intelligence 

GMII: Global Maritime Intelligence Integration

H

HPSCI: House Permanent Select Committee on 

Intelligence

HUMINT: Human Intelligence 

I

I&A: Office of Intelligence and Analysis (DHS) 

IC: Intelligence Community 

ICCR: Intelligence Community Capability 

Requirements

ICD: Intelligence Community Directive (replaces 

Director of Central Intelligence Directives) 

IED: Improvised Explosive Device 

IMINT: Imagery Intelligence 

IN: Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence

INR: Bureau of Intelligence and Research 

(DOS) 

INSCOM: Intelligence and Security Command 

(Army)
87

IOB: Intelligence Oversight Board

IPPBE: Intelligence Planning, Programming, 

Budgeting, and Evaluation

IRB: Intelligence Resources Board

IRTPA: Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 

ISR: Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance

IT: Information Technology

ITACG: Interagency Threat Assessment and 

Coordination Group, NCTC

J

J-2: Directorate for Intelligence, Joint Staff 

Intelligence

JICC: Joint Intelligence Community Council

JTTF: Joint Terrorism Task Force 

JWICS: Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communication System 

M

MASINT: Measurement and Signatures 

Intelligence 

MCIA: Marine Corps Intelligence Activity

MIP: Military Intelligence Program

MSA: Major System Acquisition

MSIC: Missile and Space Intelligence Center

N

NCIX: National Counterintelligence Executive 

NCMI: National Center for Medical Intelligence

NCPC: National Counterproliferation Center 

NCS: National Clandestine Service

NCTC: National Counterterrorism Center 

NDIC: National Defense Intelligence College

NGA: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency 

(formerly NIMA) 

NFIP: National Foreign Intelligence Program 

NGIC: National Ground Intelligence Center

NIC: National Intelligence Council 

NIE: National Intelligence Estimate 

NIP: National Intelligence Program 

NIS: National Intelligence Strategy

NJTTF: National Joint Terrorism Task Force 

NMEC: National Media Exploitation Center

NMIC: National Maritime Intelligence Center

NRO: National Reconnaissance Office 

NSA: National Security Agency 

NSB: National Security Branch
88

NSC: National Security Council 

NSOC: National Security Operations Center

NSPD: National Security Presidential Directives

NTOC: NSA/CSS Threat Operations Center

NVTC: National Virtual Translation Center

O

ODNI: Office of the Director of National Intelligence 

OIG: Office of the Inspector General 

ONCIX: Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive

ONI: Office of Naval Intelligence

ONSI: Office of National Security Intelligence

OPNAV N2/N6: Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance

OSC: Open-Source Center

OSINT: Open-Source Intelligence 

P

PFIAB: President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory 

Board

PIAB: President’s Intelligence Advisory Board

R

RFI: Request for Information 

S

S&T: Science and Technology 

SCI: Sensitive Compartmented Information 

SIGINT: Signals Intelligence

SLTT: State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial

SSCI: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

S&T: Science and Technology

T

TIDE: Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment 

TSC: Terrorist Screening Center 

U

UFAC: Underground Facilities Analysis Center

UGF: Underground Facility

UIS: Unifying Intelligence Strategies

USCG: U.S. Coast Guard 

USCG-ICC: U.S. Coast Guard Intelligence 

Coordination Center

USD(I): Undersecretary of Defense for 

Intelligence 

U/SIA: Under Secretary for I&A

USMC: U.S. Marine Corps
89

W

WMD: Weapons of Mass Destruction 

WMDD: Weapons of Mass Destruction 

Directorate

Resources

Organization URL Description

IC Agency Web Sites

Air Force ISR (Intelligence, 

Surveillance, and 

Reconnaissance) Agency

http://www.afisr.af.mil n General office information

n News, press releases, and videos

n Links to career and internship opportunities

Central Intelligence Agency http://www.cia.gov n General office information and information on CIA mission

n Policy and appointment updates

n Congressional testimony–related links

n News, press releases, videos, and CIA World Fact Book

n Links to career and internship opportunities and descriptions 

 of the CIA organizational culture

Defense Intelligence Agency http://www.dia.mil n General office information and information on the DIA mission 

 and Defense Intelligence Enterprise strategy

n Policy and appointment updates

n Congressional testimony–related links

n News, press releases, and videos 

n Links to career and internship opportunities (within dia.mil 

 site) and descriptions of the DIA organizational culture

Federal Bureau of Investigation http://www.fbi.gov n General office information, FBI overview, and overview of 

 Directorate of Intelligence

n Policy and appointment updates

n Congressional testimony–related links

n News, press releases, and videos 

n Links to career and internship opportunities
90

Organization URL Description

IC Agency Web Sites

National GeospatialIntelligence Agencyhttp://www.nga.mil n General office information and information on NGA mission 

 and strategic intent 

n Policy and appointment updates

n Congressional testimony–related links

n News, press releases, and videos

n Links to career and internship opportunities

National Reconnaissance Office http://www.nro.gov n General office information and information on NRO mission 

n News, press releases, and videos

National Security Agency/

Central Security Service

http://www.nsa.gov n General office information and information on NSA/CSS 

 mission and strategic plan

n Policy and appointment updates

n Congressional testimony–related links

n News, press releases, and video transcripts 

n Links to career and internship opportunities

Office of the Director of 

National Intelligence 

http://www.dni.gov n General ODNI information, ODNI mission information, and U.S. 

 National Intelligence Strategy

n Policy and appointment updates

n Congressional testimony–related links

n News, press releases, and speeches 

n Links to information on ODNI careers, internships, 

 scholarships, and other such opportunities

U.S. Army Intelligence and 

Security Command

http://www.inscom.army.mil n General office information

n News, press releases, and videos

n Links to career and internship opportunities

U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Homeland Securityhttp://www.uscg.mil n General office information

n News, press releases, and videos

n Links to career and internship opportunities

U.S. Department of Energy http://www.energy.gov n General office information and DOE Directives

n Policy and appointment updates

n Congressional testimony–related links

n News, press releases, and videos 

n Links to career and internship opportunities
91

Organization URL Description

IC Agency Web Sites

U.S. Department of Homeland 

Security 

http://www.dhs.gov n General office information and information on DHS mission 

 and DHS strategic plan

n Policy and appointment updates

n Congressional testimony–related links

n News, press releases, and videos

n Links to career and internship opportunities

U.S. Department of State http://www.state.gov n General office information and information on the State 

 Department mission 

n Policy and appointment updates

n Congressional testimony–related links

n News, press releases, and videos

n Links to career and internship opportunities

U.S. Department of the Treasury http://www.treasury.gov n General information and information on the Department of the 

 Treasury mission and U.S. economic strategy

n Policy and appointment updates

n Congressional testimony–related links

n News, press releases, and other information resources 

n Links to career opportunities

U.S. Drug Enforcement 

Administration

http://www.justice.gov/dea n General office information and information on DEA mission 

n Policy and appointment updates

n Congressional testimony–related links

n News, press releases, videos, and news and information on the 

 Drug Enforcement Administration Museum and Visitors Center

n Links to career and internship opportunities and descriptions 

 of the DEA organizational culture

U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. 

Marine Corps Forces Special 

Operations Command, Marine 

Special Operations Intelligence 

Battalion

http://www.usmc.mil/unit/

marsoc/msoib

n General office information

n News, press releases, and videos

n Links to career and internship opportunities

U.S. Navy, Office of Naval 

Intelligence

http://www.oni.navy.mil n General office information

n News, press releases, and videos

n Links to career and internship opportunities
92

Organization URL Description

IC Employment Websites

Central Intelligence Agency https://www.cia.gov/careers Identifies career opportunities and career paths within the CIA

Defense Intelligence Agency http://www.dia.mil/careers The DIA’s “Employment Headquarters” website

Federal Bureau of Investigation http://www.fbijobs.gov Highlights the FBI’s featured opportunities and other news as well 

as links to information on FBI career paths

FBI Language Services: 

Contract Linguists

http://fbijobs.gov/ling/ Contains postings specifically on FBI contract linguist 

opportunities

National GeospatialIntelligence Agencyhttp://erecruit.nga.mil Identifies current career opportunities at the NGA

National Security Agency/

Central Security Service

http://www.nsa.gov/careers Identifies current NSA career opportunities and the benefits of 

working at the NSA/CSS

National Virtual Translation 

Center

http://www.nvtc.gov Provides answers to pertinent FAQs related to employment at the 

NVTC

Office of the Director of 

National Intelligence 

(Intelligence.gov) 

http://intelligence.gov/careersin-intelligence/ Highlight the diverse careers that the IC offers and the type of 

talent needed across the IC 

U.S. Air Force http://www.airforce.com/

joining-the-air-force/officeroverview/

Provides an overview of the requirements to become an Air Force 

officer

U.S. Army Intelligence and 

Security Command

http://www.inscom.army.mil/

Employment/Defaultjobs.aspx

Provides links to USAJobs.gov and Army-specific sites for current 

employment opportunities 

U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Homeland Securityhttp://www.uscg.mil/top/

careers.asp

Identifies current career opportunities and the benefits of working for the Coast Guard as officer, enlisted, reserve, civilian, or 

auxiliary personnel

U.S. Department of Energy http://jobs.energy.gov/ A career information portal that enables users to search for DOE 

opportunities through the USAJobs website. 

U.S. Department of Homeland 

Security 

http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/

careers

Identifies current DHS career opportunities and the benefits of 

working at the DHS

U.S. Department of State http://careers.state.gov Identifies the career opportunities within the State Department

U.S. Department of the Treasury http://www.treasury.gov/

careers

Identifies career opportunities at the Department of the Treasury 

headquarters and at the individual Treasury bureaus

U.S. Drug Enforcement 

Administration

http://www.justice.gov/dea/

resources/job_applicants.html

Identifies career opportunities within the DEA
93

Organization URL Description

IC Employment Websites

U.S. Office of Personnel 

Management (USAJobs.gov)

http://usajobs.gov/ Highlight the diverse careers that the IC offers and the type of 

talent needed across the IC

U.S. Marine Corps http://www.marines.com

http://officer.marines.com

Provides an overview of opportunities as enlisted or officer 

personnel

U.S. Navy

Department of the Navy Civilian 

Human Resources

Office of Naval Intelligence 

“Hot Vacancies”

Office of Naval Intelligence 

“Military Duty at ONI”

http://www.donhr.navy.mil/

http://www.oni.navy.mil/

Join_Us/hot_jobs.htm

http://www.oni.navy.mil/

Join_Us/Military_duty.htm

Naval civilian HR and ONI job-search sites

Laws and Policies Governing the IC 

Office of the Director of National Intelligence

Office of General Counsel 

Legal Reference Book

The Constitution Of The United States Of America 

National Security Act Of 1947

Intelligence Reform And Terrorism Prevention Act Of 2004* 

Central Intelligence Agency Act Of 1949 

National Security Agency Act Of 1959 

Department Of Defense Title 10 Authorities 

National Imagery And Mapping Agency Act Of 1996 

Homeland Security Act Of 2002* 
94

Counterintelligence And Security Enhancements Act Of 1994 

Counterintelligence Enhancement Act Of 2002 

Classified Information Procedures Act 

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Of 1978 

Protect America Act Of 2007 

Usa Patriot Act Of 2001*

Usa Patriot Improvement And Reauthorization Act Of 2005* 

Detainee Treatment Act Of 2005 

Military Commissions Act Of 2006 

Freedom Of Information Act 

Privacy Act 

Federal Information Security Management Act 

Inspector General Act Of 1978 

War Crimes Act Of 1996 

Interception Of Wire, Electronic, And Oral Communications 

Implementing Recommendations Of The 9/11 Commission Act Of 2007* 

Executive Order 12139 

Executive Order 12333 

Executive Order 12949 

Executive Order 12951 

Executive Order 12958 

Executive Order 12968 
95

Executive Order 13354 

Executive Order 13355 

Executive Order 13388 

Executive Order 13462 

Executive Order 13467 

Executive Order 13491 

Executive Order 13492 

Executive Order 13493 

Intelligence Sharing Procedures For Foreign Intelligence And Foreign 

Counterintelligence Investigations Conducted By The Fbi 

Guidelines For Disclosure Of Grand Jury And Electronic, Wire, And Oral 

Interception Information Identifying United States Persons 

Guidelines Regarding Disclosure To The Director Of Central Intelligence And Homeland Security 

Officials Of Foreign Intelligence Acquired In The Course Of A Criminal Investigation 

Guidelines Regarding Prompt Handling Of Reports Of Possible Criminal Activity Involving Foreign 

Intelligence Sources

The Attorney General’s Guidelines For Domestic Fbi Operations

Strengthening Information Sharing, Access, And Integration B Organizational, Management, And 

Policy Development Structures For Creating The Terrorism Information Sharing Environment

Guidelines To Ensure That The Information Privacy And Other Legal Rights Of Americans Are Protected In The Development And Use Of The Information 

Sharing Environment

Criteria On Thresholds For Reporting Intelligence Oversight Matters

Mou: Reporting Of Information Concerning Federal Crimes

Intelligence Community And Government Websites
96

Subject Index

Air Force. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34, 82

Analysis, Production and Feedback. . . . . . 59

Army. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-33, 82, 87, 91, 93

Careers in the Intelligence Community. . . . 75

Central Intelligence Agency18-19, 23, 68, 82, 

86, 90, 93

Civil Liberties and Privacy Office. . . . . . . . 72

Coast Guard. . . . . 25, 27, 34, 82, 89, 91, 93

Collection Operations Management. . . . . 47-49

Collection Requirements Management. . 47-48

Collection, Processing and Exploitation. . . . 53

Communications Intelligence. . 55, 80, 81, 85, 

86

Congress (House of Representatives and 

Senate). . 15, 17, 53, 68, 69, 70, 90, 91, 92

Counterintelligence. . . 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 

25, 28, 30, 32, 35, 42, 69, 80, 86, 87, 88, 

89, 95, 96

Counternarcotics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Counterproliferation. . . . . . . . . 16-17, 19, 25

Counterterrorism. . 16, 19, 27, 30, 80, 86, 88

Defense Intelligence Agency. . 20-22, 82, 86, 

90, 93

Department of Defense 8, 21, 22, 23, 24, 33, 

34, 70, 82, 86, 94

Department of Energy. 25, 45, 82, 87, 91, 93

Department of Homeland Security. 25-28, 82, 

86, 91, 92, 93

Department of Justice. . . . . . . . . . . . . 29, 82

Department of State. . . . . 31, 41, 82, 92, 93

Department of the Treasury. . . 32, 82, 92, 93

Deputy Executive Committee. . . . . 46, 67, 86

Director of National 

Intelligence. . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 15-17, 18, 19, 

20, 21, 23, 26, 31, 44-45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 

67-72, 82, 83, 84, 86, 89, 91, 93, 94

Drug Enforcement Administration. . 29, 82, 86, 

92

Electronic Intelligence. . . . 55-56, 81, 85, 87

Equal Employment Opportunity 

and Diversity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70-71

Executive Committee. . . . . . . . . . . . . 67, 87

Federal Bureau 

of Investigation27, 29-30, 31, 82, 87, 90, 93

Foreign Instrumentation 

Signals Intelligence. . . . . . . . . 55-56, 81, 85

General Defense Intelligence 

Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 87
97

Geospatial 

Intelligence. . . . . . . . 11, 19, 22, 53, 82, 87

House Permanent Select Committee 

on Intelligence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68, 87

Human Intelligence. . 11, 18, 20, 54, 86, 87

Imagery Intelligence. . . . . . . . . . . 53, 82, 87

Intelligence Cycle. . . . . . . . . . . 10-12, 80, 82

Intelligence 

Integration. . . . . . . . . . 15-16, 46, 67-68, 86

Intelligence Oversight Board. . . . . . 69-70, 87

Intelligence Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Intelligence Planning, Programming, 

Budgeting and Evaluation. . . . . . . . 44-45, 87

Intelligence Resources Board. . . . . . . . 46, 88

Interagency Threat Assessment and 

Coordination Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27, 88

Joint Intelligence Community Council. . 67, 88

Joint Terrorism Task Force. . . . . . . 30, 83, 88

Marine Corps. . . . . . . . . . . 20, 34-35, 82, 88

Measurement and Signature 

Intelligence. . . . . . . . 20, 54, 79, 83, 87, 88

Military Intelligence 

Program. . . . . . . . . . . 20, 23, 45, 46, 70, 88

National Air and Space 

Intelligence Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

National Counterintelligence 

Executive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 17, 88, 89

National Counterproliferation 

Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17, 88

National Counterterrorism 

Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 17, 27, 88

National Defense Intelligence 

College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-22, 88

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. . . 22, 

82, 88, 91, 93

National Ground Intelligence Center. . . 35, 88

National Intelligence 

Council. . . . . . . . . 16, 17-18, 49, 83-84, 88

National Intelligence Estimates. . . . . . 17, 84

National Intelligence Managers. . . . . . . . . 16

National Intelligence Priorities Framework. .49

National Intelligence Program. . . . 15, 23, 26, 

44-45, 46, 47, 70, 88

National Intelligence 

Strategy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39, 44, 88, 91

National Joint Terrorism Task Force. . . 30, 88

National Media Exploitation Center. . . . 21, 88

National Reconnaissance 

Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23, 82, 88, 91

National Security Agency. . . . . . 23-25, 82, 88
98

National Security Council. . 7, 15, 49, 69, 88

National Virtual Translation 

Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31, 89, 93

Navy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33-34, 82, 92, 94

Office of Intelligence and 

Counterintelligence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25, 87

Office of National Security 

Intelligence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29, 89

Office of Naval Intelligence. . . . . . 34, 89, 92

Office of the Director of National 

Intelligence. . . . 8, 15-16, 47, 72, 82, 89, 91

Office of the Inspector General. . . . . . . 70, 89

Open Source Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Open Source 

Intelligence. . . . . . . . . . . 11, 19, 79, 84, 89

Organizational Oversight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

President’s Intelligence Advisory 

Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69-70, 89

Quadrennial Homeland Security Review. . . 26

Requirements, Planning and Direction. . . . 39

Senate Select Committee 

on Intelligence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68-69

Signals Intelligence. . 23, 24, 55-56, 79, 80, 

81, 83, 85, 89

Underground Facilities 

Analysis Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-16, 89

Weapons of Mass Destruction. . 7, 16-17, 20, 

23, 27, 30, 53, 83, 90

Wounded Warrior Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
101

Legal Disclaimer

Nothing in this handbook shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect the authority granted by 

law to a department or agency, or the head thereof. Additionally, the handbook is not intended to, 

and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, 

by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers,

 employees, or agents, or any other person.
102