1. ' •

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

MEMORANDUM

7 June 74

NOTE FOR MR. PLU)MER

I have been holding this waiting

for comments from Buzz. I expect he

will provide them by this afternoon;

however, I thought you might want to

take ckage.

es some substant ve comments Ln Attachment 2

which you s iew and possibly

discuss wit uzz and me.
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(,(NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE

•

WASHINGTON. D.C.

THE NRO STAFF 6 June 1974

MEMORANDUM FOR MR. PLUMMER

SUBJECT: Phase-out of Program D

The memorandum at the right for the Chief of Staff

outlines the phase-out of Program D. It cites your desires

,

-:. •

:10 for the continuation of support to the NRO and the specialized management of the U-2 and SR-71 programs and solicits

the Chief's thoughts.

I envision the process as proceeding in a step-wise

fashion. Following an Air Force acceptance of the memoran-

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dum in an initial implementation step would be to

trans letters signed by the Chief of Staff to the

4 Commanders of SAC, AFLC, MAC and AFSC. These letters would

outline the scope of the phase-out and express the need for

-

continued support of the NRO and the U-2/SR-71 programs

through the revised management scheme. Concurrently, normally

classified correspondence relating to the U-2/SR-71 realign-

:: nent would be signed to the various commanders praising the

support given to AF/IGJ and requesting continued support.

Underlying the correspondence would be the theme that the

various activities conducted by AF/IGJ for the NRO and the

Air Force will continue as they have in the past, but under

different authorities.

The transition phase should be accomplished over a

limited period of time. This period would permit the various

relationships to be stabilized both within the NRO and the

Air Force for the required levels of support. In addition,

the time would be used for assuring a smooth transition of

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the financial activities associated with the phase-out of

OSA as well as the realignment of Program D. I suggest the

earlier date for completion of the phase-out and transfer of

functions be October 1, 1974 and the latest date January 1,

1975.

I have attached comments from Colonel Bailey

General Bradburn, and Les Dirks.

. u

Brigadier General, USAF

Attachments

1. Col Baile 's c is

2 comments

quest to ra & Dirks

Brad's answer

5. Dirks' answer

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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR root=

WASHINGTON. D.C.

7 June 1974

9101111

MEMORANDUM FOR LT CO

SUBJECT: Realignment NRO Program D

Recommend the following changes be incorporated into

the Memo for CSAF.

Revise paragraph 4 as follows:

Colonel Bernard L. Bailey, the Director of NRO Program

D, also has a second, and openly acknowledged, job title as

head of AF/IGJ on the Air Staff. In this capacity he reports

directly to me as the under Secretary of the Air Force. AF/IGJ

provides specialized management of the Air Force U-2 and SR-71

programs and is designated officially the OPR for the Air Force

U-2 and SR-71 programs. Special Air Staff reviews are conducted for both the U-2 and SR-71 with respect to programming

and budgeting. These reviews are tailored along the same line

as the specialized management structure which assures rapid

response and a •h •re

Revise• rigraph 7 as follows:

As far as realignment of responsibilities and management

of the U-2 and SR-71, it is clear that special management

arrangements have been advantageous and their retention ie. 4ftnecessary if these systems retain their role in national crisis

management and intelligence collection. However, I would prefer

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Colonel, USAF

Director, Program D

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that the direct reporting responsibility be changed from

the Office of Under Secretary. The present arrangement

under AF/IG has been working very satisfactoiily, however,

you may want to consider other arrangements. To assure a

responsive system and retain the specialized management concept it is essential any realignment be at the senior Air

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6 June 74

Consents on Pronosed Memorandum for the Chief of Staff Re Realignment .

pf NRO Program D

The opamingrasepiqkbas a ploming assumption which is not

presently factual. CIA has no specific date yet established for an

actual transfer, and is relying on "no specific agreements with the

a new ambassafor, etc." as reasons for delays. As of 1 July 74,

budgeting and funding responsibility will transfer, and Mr. Dudkett has

recently asked that the contracting be transferred, but in the meantime

CIA hut requested six months of FT 1975 funding for Idealist support (the

four aircraft involved) tram Air Staff funds, which indicates CIA planning

to continue with U-,2 operations beyond 1 July, and that when a transfer

date is set, there will be months of effort involved. I suggest that

"On July 1, 1974" be deleted, and "during FT 1975" be substituted, and

that the later "program" management be changed to "budgeting/funding"

management.

With respect to para. 2, Mr. Plummer said that NE0 Staff should

be in small letter "staff.' st alsos from 'I have

decided•**" to "I am -

para. 5, a sentence "These responsibilities will be financed 171

entirely by the Air Force starting in FT 1975.

5. Not addressed in the memo but certainly to be conaidered. are C.4- /° the present responsibilities of Director D for such areas as, Oxcart/ de 4,0 

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d# J e ".4 whiCrsummiiliie each of Director D's present responsibilities, with columns":' JA r‘r

for Budgeting/Funding, Contracting, Audit, Logistics Support, Operations,

etc., and another chart or two that indicates what would happen to each

under reorganisation arrangements. Another facet is the imminent initial

fUnd approvals for Fr 1975, presently ctor D or ICJ (for

U,21s) contractual actions for early instructions

to or FT 1975 support, e ., be changed significantly by re . In view of all the sort-outs necessary to move logicallb
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LAIgge ob *Native date of 1 .7 76 tieing in to fiscal years) for

effecting reorganise& s, • concentrated planning and establishment of a firm Idealist aircraft transfer date to be established shortly.

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REFERENCE OUR PRIOR DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONSIDERATIONS 'ON BEING GIVEN TOYARD THE TERMINATION OF NRO

pRoGRAM D. THE DNRO IS TENTATIVELY CONSIDERING THE 00FSI3ILITY OF TRANSFERRING COMMON SUPPORT FUNCTIONS FPO' =MOW D INTO THE NRO STAFF. REQUEST YOU FURNISH

DIRECTLY TO FE THE FOLLOVING INFORMATION:

VHAT ARE THE SERVICES AND FUNCTIONS CURRENTLY

PROVIDED TO YOU BY PROGRAM D? •

4RE THESE SERVICES AND FUNCTIONS STILL REQUIRED?

3. ANY THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS YOU LAY HAVE ON THIS

SU3JECT.

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WYPEVED., THEY CAN BE OBTAINED DIRECTLY BY PROGRAM A OR THROUGH

OMER AGENCIES,

; 4. STORAGE OF SURPLUS MATERI VAR OUS CONTRACTOR PLANTS.

RrT/RN CLASSIFIED STORAGE

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FACILITIES.

ISCUSS THIS ISSUE TITI1 YOU PERSONALLY THIS WEEK AT

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MRSINIL E DIRKS TO GEN. KU_PA

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