THE NRO STAFF 

Approved for Release: 2023/04/03 C05140972 

TOP SECRET 

-fSt-NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE 

WASHINGTON. D.C. 

23 July 1973 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD 

SUBJECT: SIGINT Satellite Operations 

C.ONTH0L ~~YSTEcM 

BACKGROUND: The NRO/SOC moved a detachment out to NSA to 

take advantage of SIGINT expertise available at SSSC. 

Further background in the form of a briefing or memorandum 

will be provided if desired. 

DISCUSSION: With the establishment of NSOC and the current 

reorganization of NSA it appears that the SSSC will rapidly 

exist only on paper and functionally wil·l be worthless. 

The ground sites could probably "exist" without either the 

SOC or the SSSC; however, there would be a deterioration 

of "orchestration among systems," a drop of collection 

efficiency due to an apparent lack of concern and information provided by Washington, and a larger communications 

gnp between the syAtcms on orbit and both the NRO Sti'tf f 

and the USIB structure, i.e., someone has to support and 

guide the "troops in the trenches." 

The following indications have led to the drafting of 

this memorandum: 

a. The NSA manning level at the SSSC has dropped 

from about 45 to 15 and there are no signs of any reliefs. 

They appear to be leaving in order of desirability, i.e., 

·the best performers have already gone. 

b. The ops comm and SOCOMM circuits to the sites 

are moving from SSSC to NSOC. 

c. All of the A, B, and G group representatives 

appear to be transferring back to their groups or to new 

elements within NSA. 

d. All of the TPO's, i.e., those who thought 

they were performing the NRO/SOC function before the advent 

of the NDF, either have left without replacement or are 

guietly mumbling about leaving in the near future without 

replacement. 

HANDLE VIA 

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e. The 24-hour watch, i.e., one.of the 

major "reasons to be 11 for the SSSC and one of the major 

reasons for establishing the detachment at Ft. Meade 

rather than staying here in the Pentagon, appears to be 

leaving in the near future (rumor is September). 

f. Nobody 1 s talking. We have asked specific 

questions concerning the above to the Director, SSSC; 

deputy director, SSSC; and NSA SORS Representative and 

they either honestly don't know what 1 s going on or the 

information is compartmented. 

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: 

a. Take advantage of what appears to be a 

pending power vacuum by doubling the manning of the NDF and 

actually performing the NRO/SOC mission as exists in the 

NRO charter. 

b. Fold up our tents, come home, deal directly 

with the ground sites, and cut the cables an the NSA/ 

MGS ops comms. 

c. Quietly sit by, twiddle our thumbs and watch 

the rest of the world go by. 

d. Demand an 

cerning their plans for 

to NDF/SSSC relations. 

by setting up a meeting 

the subject.) 

official explanation from NSA conreorganization and how they relate 

(We tried this option once recently 

with Dr. Hermann and Mr. Singel on 

In summary, I would be most happy to pursue any of 

the above courses of action as soon as some guidance is 

received .or to provide further information if desired. 

Chief, SIGINT Branch 

cc--;;.ir. Singel 

General Kulpa 

Col Kiefer 

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CONTROL SYaiTEM 

LtCol Hofmannr-------

Mr. Murphy 

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Approved for Release: 2023/04/03 C05140972 

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