TOP SECRET

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

WASHINGTON

ORME OF THIC WINN manterart

DedeMber 12,1963

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

DIRECTOR, CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

Following recent discussions, an examination of the NRO

has been undertaken, to seek ways of insuring the best use of

the talents and resources of both DOD and CIA. At a meeting

on 7 November 1963, General Carter, Dr. Wheelon, and Mr. Bross

of the CIA reviewed with me and with Mr. Kiefer, Deputy DNRO,

the organizations, responsibilities, and technical capabilities

of (1) the NRO Staff, (2) the NRO Program A under Major •General

Robert Greer, SAFSP and Deputy Commander, AF Space Systems

Division, (3) the NRO Program B under Jack Ledford, Colonel,

USAF, now on duty with the CIA under the Deputy Director for

Science and Technology (DDSand T), and (4) the organization of

the DDS and T,CIA.

As this review showed, to a considerable degree at present,

the offices of the NRO are staffed by mixed groups. Participation by Air Force personnel in Program B is extensive. In the

key positions, the NRO Staff has 21 military officers assigned.

Of this number, 18 are Air Force, of whom four have had previous

assignment with CIA, and two come from the Navy and one from

the Army. In addition, there are three CIA senior career employees and one career employee from NSA. Program A has two

CIA career employees, one Navy and one Army officer, out of a

total direct staff of 16. Approximately 130 SSD and Aerospace

Corporation technical personnel provide full and part time

support to the Director of Program A.

At the meeting of 7 November,I outlined several management functions in which I felt the NRO needed strengthening

and suggested some in which the contributions of qualified

personnel with substantial previous experience in the CIA would

be particularly useful. Specific recommendations in this regard

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ag are set forth in later paragraphs. I also stated at the

,.$ meeting that I was not willing to make arbitrary enlargements 1 I

of, or substitutions•in, the NRO management structure. Changes

in staffing will be instituted as in my judgment the needs of

NRO dictate, and as rotation of personnel requires.

. r. 1. One individual highly qualified in aircraft operational

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matters. He would function as Staff Aircraft Operations Officer,

:.:' . a maintaining cognizance of all overflight operations using • ..•

. ..• VI present aircraft, and of the status.of these aircraft and .,,...Ci

their systems. , .

2. One individual well qualified in image sensors and

sensor systems. He would function as a Staff Engineer on

sensor problems relating to reconnaissance vehicles.

On the Staff of the Director x, Proaram A:

, 3. One individual well qualified in research and development in a wide variety of technical fields. He would function

as a Staff Development Engineer directing study and development

contracts related to advanced systems for satellite reconnaissance.

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I suggest that individuals nominated for these positions

hold grades in the GS-13 to GS-14 range. I would like if

F possible to consider principle and alternate nominations for

each post, with a sufficient statement of background, experience,

and education of each individual that effective comparisons can

be made with other candidates. As I have already stated, it

is my feeling in connection with these assignments that sub-

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stantial previous experience with the CIA, in appropriately

In other actions, I have proposed changes in the operating

management of the CORONA project which would transfer responsibility for certain CIA contracts to a CIA contracting officer

11 I would like to consider immediately nominations from

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the CIA for candidates for the following three positions.

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On the NRO Staff:

f • related activities, is a valuable qualification.

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on the staff of the Director, Program A. I believe that the

workload is such that this will require assigning another

CIA contracting officer to Program A. If so, this is a fourth

post which should be filled as soon as possible.

The two positions on the NRO Staff will be physically

located in the Pentagon. The assignments with the Staff of

the Director, Program A, will be on the West Coast.

I do not consider that the assignments proposed are for

purposes of liaison. Personnel selected for the posts recommended above are to be assigned on the strength of the constructive

contributions they can make to the NRP. They will be expected,

as in the case of all NRO personnel, regardless of parent

organization, to serve under the direct supervision of the NRO

office to which they are assigned. NRO supervisors will be

responsible for performance of the personnel assigned to them.

I do not believe that the assignments suggested here are

the last in which the experience and background of CIA employees

will prove valuable. Other actions now in process with respect

to CORONA management, and in connection with Staff functions

in support of advanced planning, may bring up further specific

requests for nominations from the CIA. As personnel are rotated

after their normal tours of duty, I shall continue to examine

all sources for the best qualified re p1

Director

National Reconnaissance Office

cc: Deputy Secretary of Defense
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