B~ 

co I' NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

THE NRO STAFF January 14, 196: 

HANDLE VIA 

BYEMAN 

MEMORANDUM FOR DR. FLAX 

SUBJECT: Army /Navy Liaison Officer Billets in the NRO 

Purpose 

To forward Mr. Nitze' s request for the establishment of two 

additional 0-6 billets in the NRO. 

Background 

In the OASD(A) staffing of Acting Secretary Baird's October 8 

memorandum to Mr. Nitze, the question of additional Service representation on the NRO Staff was raised. Colonel Morrison and 

Commander Emerson {of Mr. Horwitz' office} reviewed this question 

with General Berg -- set forth initially as a proposal for the assignment of both a Navy and Army "liaison" officer. In this review, 

General Berg explained, in detail, the philosophy of multi-service / 

agency representation on the Staff and, following discussions with 

you, recommended strongly against the assignment to the Staff of 

personnel charged specifically and solely as representatives of their 

parent organizations. 

Present Situation 

Mr. Nitze has asked (Tab A) that we establish billets for an additional Army Colonel and Navy Captain in the NRO. He has directed 

that "these officers are to perform duties assigned by the Director, 

NRO Staff, and are to be additionally responsible for ensuring regular 

exchanges of information with ... their respective departments .... 11 

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Discussion 

Fortunately, the initial proposal that these officers function solely 

as a "liaison" on the NRO Staff for their respective Services has been 

abandoned. Mr. Nitzel s direction that they "perform duties assigned 

by the Director, NRO Staff" is certainly in line with our current operating philosophy. His further direction that they "be additionally 

responsible for ensuring regular exchanges of information with ... their 

respective departments ... " presents no particular problem in that we 

have provided in the past and are currently providing for such exchangt 

through Lt Col Williamson (our Army member) for the Army and throu 

Commander Carberry (a Navy assignee) for the Navy as a follow-on to 

the excellent rapport established much earlier by Captain Koch (recent 

retired). 

Recommendations 

We would propose that the Army 0-6 billet be filled by Lt Col 

Williamson, who would continue to ensure a regular exchange of information on matters of interest to the Secretary of the Army. 

Since Commander Carberry is primarily involved in SIGINT activt 

in the SOC, we would suggest for the Navy billet an R&D qualified offiCI 

specifically in the electronics field, in view of current and projected 

Navy activity in the ocean surveillance satellite program area. 

With your approval, we will proceed, on this basis, in our discussions with the Army and Navy. 

A ttached, on the right, are memoranda for your signature to the 

Secretaries of the Army and the Navy indicating that General Berg is 

prepared to discuss the aSSignments with their designated representatives. Also attached is an acknowledgement of Mr. Nitze's request 

noting our action in this regard. 

'h~11.~ WILLIAM R. YOST ' 

Lt Colonel, USAF 

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