-1e)-NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE

WASHINGTON. D.C.

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR 15 March 1976

MCIORANDMI FOR DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ELLSUORTH

SUBJECT: National Reconnaissance Program Charter

Attached is a new draft of the Charter - National Reconnaissance

Program, that has been proposed by the IC Staff following the CFI meeting last week. Underlined words have been added to the original draft;

dotted-through words have been dropped. We have been invited to participate in a discussion of the new draft at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, 16 March,

hosted by the IC Staff. There is no indication of representation by your

office in these discussions.

Major changes that have been proposed are as follows:

Clearly establishes the role of the CIA as one

of the NRO program offices.(Paragraphs 1 and 5).

Directly mentions the Deputy DNRO and his method

of appointment. (Paragraph 4)

Deletes direct NRO staff support to the CFI.

Establishes strong IC Staff support. (Paragraphs 5, 8, and 14

Indicates collection requirements and priorities

to be set by the DCI. (Paragraph 7)

5.. Indicates requests for conducting foreign intelli

Bence collection' missions should be submitted to Operations

Advisory Group (correcting an editorial error). (Paragraph 7

6. Indicates that appropriate fiscal control and accou

ing procedures should be established. (Paragraph tl)

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Specifies transition of control and direction of

NRP in time of war. (Paragraph 19)

Establishes control and direction of NRO by both

CFI and DCI. (Paragraphs 3 and 4)

While quite specific in the final responsibilities

of•the DCI and CIA, there is no mention of the SECDEF responsibilities to direct, manage, and fund the NRP. (Per E0 11905)

In various places, changes could be read as tending

to erode the authority of the DNRO over the program offices.

(Paragraphs 5 and 6).

I plan to attend the meeting from a working session standpoint, and

will attempt to retain strong DNRO management over the program and the

maintenance of the streamlined meth of operation.

Charles W. Cook

Acting Director

Attachment - 1

'Draft of NRP Charter

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12 arch 1976

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE

DIRECTIVE NO.

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RATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE PROGRAM CHARTER

A. INTRODUCTION 

I. There is hereby created a National Reconnaissance

Program (NRP) for the collection of foreign intelligence by

satellites or such other overhead means as may be assigned.

The NRP shall combine activities of the Department of Defense 

and the Central Intelligence Agency to assure that potentialities of U.S. technology and all operational resources and 

facilities are am cmessively and imaginatively•exploited to 

develop and operate systems for the collection of foreign 

intelligence wnich are fully responsive to the Government's 

foreign intelligence needs and obtectives. As a function of

national importance, the NRP is assigned the highest priority.

for DoD and industrial support.

2. 'The Program will be managed by a National Reconnaissance

Office (NRO), a special office within the Department of Defense

for the collection of specialized intelligence information

through* reconnaissance programs. This charter iiii-TORTthe

responsibilities of the NRO, which will be conducted in accordance with the legal requirements of Executive Order 11905,

*United States Foreign Intelligence Activities," 18 February 1976,

and its implementing directives.

B. •RESPONSIBILITIES 

3. The Committee on Foreign Intelligence (CFI) and the

Director of Central Intelligence shall exercise such authority

over the NRP as is spee4t4ed provided by Executive Order 11905

and by National Security Council Directives.

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This charter supersedes the "Agreement for Reorganization of 

the National Reconnaissance Program," signed by the Deputy 

secretary of Defense and the Director of Central Intelligence, 

'dated 11 August 1965. 

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The Secretary of Defense shall appoint a senior'.

Depirtment of Defense statutory official to be the Director

of the NRO (DNRO), with the concurrence of the Director of

Central Intelligence. The Deputy DNRO shall be appointed 

by the Director of Central Intelligence with the concurrence 

of the DURO. The Secretary of Defense s 11 provide or arrange 

with the CFI and the Director of Central Intelligence for 

provision of the necessary support•to execute the program.

The DNRO shall establish a joint staff including 

representation from all organizations involved in the NRP, 

to support kikmseIf-and-oho-;;; the Program. Provision shall 

be made for establishment and operation of pro gram offices 

for the implementation of the NRP in appropriate agencies 

of the Departmen: of Defense, the military services and the 

Central Intelligence Agency'. The DNRO shall have the authority 

to assign program management responsibilities to the various 

departments and agencies of the Government, according to their 

capabilities, and as approved by the CFI. •

. 6. The DNRO shall direct and manage the NRP. Planning

and programming for satellite systems t'or other designated

overhead collectors, as approved by the CFI for the collection

of national intellicence information are the sole responsi ility

of the DNRO. He shall be lie responsible for . direction of the '

activities conducted by the program offices in research, development, procurement, operation and control of satellite or other

desi nated overhead collectors of foreign intelligence information

an -has-‘he-auskerittsy-te-ase&ER-respens4b41&44es-4e-she-var&eus

departmen4e-and-agemenles-e;-4he-Zevermmem4-aeeepilIng-se-4he4r

eapab&lirtireew The NRO will not produce finished intelligence.

7. The responsibility of the DNRO is to satisfy, through

conduct•of the NRP, the foreign intelligence collection requirements and priorities established by the CP; Director of Central 

Intelligence. The DNRO shall submit each request to conduct

a foreign intelligence collection mission to the ZnteIlligemse

Operat&eme-Beard Operations Advisory Group for approval.

8. The DNRO shall provide the Intelligence Community 

Staff with such information and data as it requires in providing 

staff support to the CFI. Site-;Atell4geaeo-gemmea44y-G:agg

44C84-w411-be-Aum4eked This will include system level perjormance and cost data required y the ICS to perform value

assessments as directed by the CPI.

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Ne-ethei-deeartmes4-er-agemey Only those program

offices participating in the FRP shall engage in reconnaissance

intelligence collection using satellites or conduct studies or

advanced teekse&egkee technology development related thereto.

'The'DNRO shall establish direct lines of control and

communication to all elements of the NRO and supporting organizations for development, operations and logistics activities. The

NRO shall not be subject to DoD or CIA procurement or administrative 

instructions or directives except as their application may be

beneficial to the management of the NRP, as determined by the NRO.

'11: The DNRO shall establish a fiscal control and accounting 

procedure to ensure that all funds expended in support of the NR? 

are fully accounted for and appropriately utilized by the program 

offices concerned.

The DoD Inspector General and General Counsel will be

responsible for oversight of the NRO, in compliance with SectiohW

land 6 of the Executive Order 11505.

Contract audit functions will be performed by the Defense

Contract Audit Agency, in accordance with covert security procedure:

The DNRO shall-prepare the budget and program recommendati

for the NRP and submit &t-te under procedures established by the CFI

for approval and inclusion in the overall intelligence budget. The

DNRO shall defend the NRP through briefings to the Congress or elsewhere #w-support-ell -el under procedures approved by the CFI.

The DNRO shall have reprogramming authority within the

approved NRP, subject to rules governing and reprogramming of

funds adopted by the CPI.

The DNRO is designated as the Head of a Procuring Agency,

and may redelegate to the extent of his legal authority. He shall.

also have the-authority to approve the lease or procurement of

automated data processing equipment integral to NRP systems.

The DNRO shall establish the manning.requirements for

the NRO and request manpower support from the appropriate agencies

and departments.

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18. The NRP shall be considered a covert 'activity of the

U.S. Government and will not, as a matter of policy, be publicly

acknowledged without the approval of the DCI. The DNRO is

responsible for recommending to the DCI the security measures

necessary for the protection of the NRP and for implementation

of security procedures.

19. In time of war involvi

including teverements target priorities,

Secretary of Defense .•

c response i ity o t e

Director of Central Deputy Secretary Deputy Assistant for

Intelligence of Defense National Security Affair.

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U.S. forces control and direction of the NRP,