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THE DIRECTOR Of CENTRAL INTEWGEIICE

12 February 1964

MEMORANDUM FOR: Dr. Brockway McMillan

Director, NRO

Attached is a copy of my notes of the discussion

we had yesterday morning. I think the notes accurately

reflect our conversation although no attempt was made

to discuss in detail the complications of the proposed

organisation arrangements for the CORONA project.

It is important that agreement be reached in

memorandum form concerning the future before there

is further disturbance of existing outstanding contracts

and management responsibilities of the CIA.

I am prepared to meet at any time to agree upon

such a memorandum and to subsequently discuss it with

Secretary McNamara.

1,k1a,

JOHN A. Mc ONE

Director

Attachment
11 February 1964

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

SUBJECT: Meeting with Dr. McMillan on 11 February 1964

Dr. McMillan stated he desired to review with me the

information given to the Clifford Beard. lie proceeded then to

discuss an elaborate organisation chart designed to show the

complexities of the present management arrangements for the

CORONA project.

Without attempting to discuss the chart in detail, it is

apparent that the Thor booster (Douglas). the standard Agent D

(Lockheed). modifications of Agena D (Lockheed 162) and the

launching services and operations (6595 ATW Vandenberg) and the

on-orbit control and recovery (6954 ATW Sunnyvale) are under the

control of General Greer.

The camera (ITEM. reentry vehicle (General Electric).

the payload superstructure and :;its integration with the camera

and reentry vehicle (Lockheed, Sunnyvale SK) are contracts under

the control of CIA.

A technical Committee coordinates the work of these

various contractors but is limited because of provisions calling

for unanimous consent.

NOTE I stated that no Committee should have

such authority . The final judgment of what should

be dens, when and how, should be made by an

individnal after receiving advice of committees.

specialists. etc.

McMillan then turned to a new plan of organisation. the

effect of which was to center all of the above functions under

General Greer who has collateral responsibility for the Thor and

Aisne. General Greer would have an operating director& the

procurement division: The procurement division would &Bennie

responsibility for all contracts for CORONA projects.
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I stated that the present arsangement seemed combersonne.

..., : RI Et It lad grew* that war Nominee the Air Tomo had refused to develop

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.. ...) the CORONA bat had Insisted s.dovdepiag the mere sophisticated

SAMS and haus* CIA masts* the job and this got them bite the • . •••

business et buying eras, resat* ,slides, etc. The moving; el

the operational center teem CIA to IRO had eimplisatod things and . . .

t ,i. go is fact the setup whieh made SINN orightally &dust fit conotertably

k; into the IMO eencept.. Manmade the teRowin palmist bolofsd la . • • : •

'•;t the attached memo espy et which I jay* In ideldtilant

F.

E. 1. It seemed logical ihat then eked& be a tally integrated ..

organisation wader competent mausgemeiit to poeuide. an necessary • • ..

filf! management teactions imibilimg psocaiiemest, impervision of .

:. • •

contractors, schedaliag and opesatimui eta proven ardcle. CORONA ..i.

. was a rumen article (although Sit J . was sem •seummhat deubtfal), and •

t.7 I wadi lihe to se* such an orgesisation eetebliehell tordmwith. •

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,.2 NOTIC: With napes& to preassenneat, I *sash! it might . ::. • .'

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C 14 . 3 1 aln well ter dm pro** to have CIA pownwessent officers, . git •

a .. s •-: admdalattaters and swessity peremenel who WINN& issue CLA. - .• ••• .... .P

X: i'l esetracto because secrecy was respected tinder these • • .... ;

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t • circulastances and not with Air Verso contracts. This • ..• • .,. .....:::...; • ..... however did met change the &Obesity et the panject mamager. . ...... 4:

Z. In oddities to all elm the managanona organisation, bad - ':' .. . • ; ;•

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to be equipped with a technical &vision which mold maks impluvements . • . 1..r.::

' to the proven avtiele which would increase its utility and meet pandas- • %..' .1.• .:..

4. 17 lolly its dependability. These I envisaged would be sortie type. ot •

.1. y ' •. .." . .... .6. "r ... b . engineering kapsevensaata which would evolve from the system - •• - ,

..... - • emghnserins amperage and the paspose et whisk wend be to proiride .' •

i.r. • more dependable CORONA systems ruminates more nada revolts. . . .,

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3. Chasid. and apart hems the above managenaemt ...._son :717;47

woad be a sophisticated technical *nomination charged with the .. • .

reepossibility to study, recommend and to effectively carry mit by

contracts and otherwise extensive advancemesta to the syetena 

• designed to get the manienunprodact. I spoke M research of the

type discaeoed anturday aftenneen, the necessity of Irvin every

frame equal the beet frame, the need to "milk the SWOON dry" by .• improved film, film inteneffiers and a variety a other scientific

and eagineering ionevatiose designed to perfect the system.

NOTE: The usimmaipasoat of the CORONA project

envisaged in I. sad Z. above would sehedele operathnna

to meet the seeds of sad its COMO& Selonesamittee..

Una mould have the Seal say on segaixemente.
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I said that these ebonies sheild test be bleated tats •

the *parades' of theiprevea devices" become they mould twelve •

sash entessiviicheages fiat the rilltegs. wessid wart to fire DAD •

phase; thereby:. when lir IKON. IMSdkr le go with their isnewatioas.

we earn consider bowie Windsor them Ws the system without

jesparileing schedules anasidered essential ken as intelligence

requirements paint et via.*

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4.0 46 oridaliais awe systein designed is give better reselstien .. • •,:.

than sae possibly be obtained beta the =OKA ssigers. •

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310221 I said ea it appeared te me that 3. and 4: •• •

tiTit ehiwdd be asigned by D/11110 te CIA who should use an el• .••

its resances te accomplish dome tare sidectives as

art• promptly as possible and with as little Misch sone to . . •"1,4 .3: *: the operation of the proven avatar as possible. •

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5. A Beard of technical advisers Amid be established by . ;

• • . . •• •• •

the D/1 *0 composed ad ales imaged in 3. above and these engaged fa .• •:•Nt•

3. sad 4. above and they &weld be charged with the iespeasibility W .

seeing that there are me overlaps we gape, and with advising the DOM° •;..ea

ea steps which should be taken. This Beard should meet as fragaredi ••tr

'• •••.

as necessary and should cessider the bread spectrum el problems which •

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arise is implemeendag the above. • . . • 462

• Dr. McMillan did net oldest to the above. lie feels there is • •

a geed la the Air Terse as evidenced by the .

swam lie ales indicated the diffiadty • .• . fit

ditto 1. sad 3. above. . • _ •• , •

. . . . •

I mated if the above procedure were adapted and adhered te:.•

then I thought that the reeenseee in both CIA and Air ! levee could• 

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cestriince to the success of ear recessaiseaace program. Anyplan o' 4

which did net utilise the resesice• of bath organisations would test be

agreeable as me. I wok the occasion to tell Dr. liabillian I remained

coavinced that he, as trader Secretary. is mehbog a mistake to attempt--

to run a line orgenisation because at his varied natatory -0 from which he could set escape and for that mama I urged he 'censider ••••;.,

setae different min-beans" arrangement ler directing the MD. *••;•,.. • • • ::*••••••:ir

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February 1964

Complete organisation plea for the operation of a proven article.

Arrange tech organ to make kap:ova:seats to the proven article to

increase its utility and dependability a and 2 under one mgt.)

Arrange sophisticated tech organ to study., icecocamead and effect by

contracts aad otherwise improvements to get man. psodect from 11).

Develop a new system

S. Board of tech. advisors.

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