A

•

FIlinnafuaap. is:t2.-

• • -

ad4/2 n A

ft 1? - -

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE "Actin -A- .:

WASHINOTON

. u

Owe= Or ma law •

December 10, 1963

vmmorms FOR DIRECTOR OF czurRAL IETRIZIGENCE

SUITZCT: Management of CORONA Project

In accordance with our discussion of 27 NoveMber 195:), I

request that the proposed memorandum to Directors of DLO

Progr304 emu B forwarded to you on 28 Cctober on this subject

under -',1,;,°.;,,',553-6:, be returned. I as submitting herewith a

rcvized proposed directive that mere clearly defines the aesignv.= of responsibilities for the conduct of the CORONA Program.

To numaarixe this cirective briefly, to Director, Program A.,

it aeeicns responsibility for: projecting vehicle and payload

requirements and launch schedules, based on minx guidance

developed in response to MIR requirements; directive control

Lor Launch, orbital and recovery operations, in accordance with

eetuiled procedures already in afoot; technical direction to

contractors for day to day engineering, and for minor product

ill?rovereents el:elusive of major developmente, mck:ng use of the

aevieu and recommendations of the Cam cad of all the technical

rezeurces of the NRO; contractual direction of CORONA contracts

thro• sh a CIA contracting officsr to be assigned to the Program A

staif; programminz, budgeting, and progress reporting on all'

atsi3Lied projects.

As you will recall, a •ecting with General Carter,

Dr. Wheelon, ane lir. Bross Wok place oa 7 Xovez.ber for the purpose of revieb?ing poeseLaitics of further inte3:ation of DCD

and CZL raeourc..4 into the =O. As u result 'of that meeting,

I cm now preparing a memorandum to you that will identify certain

pozitiens within both the HBO Staff cne the Office of Zirector,

egrew A, that I believe should be manned by technically

:.;.::.lifted individual; with CIA experience. This memorandum will

1.14 forwarded soon.

. •

•
a sit

3 of 5

Pf*tli

imp

Moi••••n

One subject touched on briefly during our meeting on

27 Novedber was that of assigning responsibilities within the

MO for advanced technical planning of major system or component

developments, as distinct from minor product improvements on

systems already assigned to appropriate Program Directors.

This function is important in determining the most promising

avenues of study and development if we are to continue to

improve our national reconnaissance capability.

I share your concern that we must make maximum use of the

initiative, imagination, and technical capabilities of all

agencies and resources available to us. The concept I propose

recognizes that each Program Director must have a small office

of highly qualified individuals engaged in advanced planning

in relation to his assigned projects. I would expect him to use

this office to assist him in his assigned responsibilities for

improvements to the systems in his care, and also for developing

recommendations for new studies or development tasks. These he

would at upon or forward to the DNS° as be judges their importance

and scope.

In the staff of the N20, I propose . a small. Advanced Planning

Office manned by individuals of the highest qualifications we

can command. This office would be responsible, under direction

of the DURO, for planning the whole content of the advanced development

program of the VIID. I am in the process now of developing detailed

guidance for the conduct of this function. It is already clear

that the group must be responsible: for review and analysis of

projects already in being, and of proposals received from Program

Directors; for insuring that all technical resources available to

the NRO contribute effectively to shaping of the program; and for

developing the criteria, and assembling the information, upon

which decisions for major new developments can rationally be based.

Responsibility for initiating major developments or developments directed toward new capabilities will remain with the DNRO,

subject to the policies and guidance of the Secretary of Defense

and the Director of Central Intelligence as provided for in the
•

agreement of 13 March 1963. Responsibility for execution of such

developments will be assigned by INBO. I expect that many study

efforts in support of the advanced planning function will be set

413 tasks by the mac upon the Program Directors and upon other

DrJD and CIA organizations not formally in the NRO.

The proposed directive attached hereto sets up an authoritative'

operating management for the corma project under the kind of

structure that I have just outlined. It retains for the DM

approval authority over all major changes or new developments;

et does not delegate to the Director, ProzrmaA, mmlusive

responsibility to plan such changes or davelopmats; and it retains

for thn ps► o the authority to execute changes or developments

throuzh the azencies of his choice. In order that we may proceed

with the urgent task of clarifying the operating :amazement of the

CGZONA project, within the framework of the objectives that were

deacusced in our 27 November meeting, your cooperation in concurring

with the attached directive will be appreciated.

Brockway cAallan

Director

National Reconnaissance Office

Attachment

3

• •

3„ 

- •

•

. -