Proposed Change to 27 Nov 1953 

DRAFT based upon meet~ 

reEresentatives of OSD, NSA, JCS, 

Army, Navy and AF OD 2 Dec 1953 

lIBI 1DRAimUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY 

SECRETARY OF THE NAVY 

SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE 

JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF 

DIRECTOR, NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY 

SUBJECT: Implementation of NSC Directive on Conmn.mications Security (BBC l.68) 

References. (a) 

(b) 

NSC Directive on Communications Security, (RSC l.68) 

dtd 20 Oct 53 

SecDef Memorandum Interim Responsibility tor CCllSIX:, 

dtd 5 Dec 52 

NSCID No. 9 Revised, dtd 24 Oct 52 

Secretary of Defense Directive: Implementation ot ISClD 

No. 9 Revised, dtd 5 Dec 52 

1. This Directive is issued for the purpose of implementing within 

the Department of Defense the provisions of reference (a) and supersedes 

reference (b). All directives, orders, or instructions relating to COMSBC 

matters issued by any authorities within the Department of Defense which. 

are inconsistent or at variance with the provisions of this Directive -t- ~~trflii will be ~""r~~,~~J rescinded or revised 1n consonance therewith. 

2. The Department of Defense has been designated by reference (a) 

as Executive Agent of the Government for all COMSEC matters. 

3. The National Security Agency (NSA) was authorized by reference (c) 

and established. by reference (d) Reference (b) assigned to the Director, 

NSA, on an interim basis, the responsibility tor COMSEC activities and I 

related matters previously assigned to the Director, Armed Porces, Security 

Agency (AFSA). 'N¢-f,t~f¢J ~¢ 1i¢1.i/.rk#.-fU-f-J ~.P.'/J</>Hl:#U #tt'J '14 

,,¢ttttt''' i~¢t~t~i i~¢ 1¢1-~tii¢t tj¢""~i'f t;t¢fl¢i/PI> /.:IJ./f¢1¢f'-/.tl' (tf 

~ttt. Y,¢ ~¢r;~ t' '/:li..~i"4-¢ t~¢~¢ '¢1~trJ<J. f.rJ ¢¢'f,r/,"1/. -¢ttftti¢'J The 

Director, NSA, has been designated Y,f f¢1¢-f;.,{¢~ (-1 to act for t.he Executive 

Agent in all COMSEC matters set forth t¥.¢-f¢/J. in paragraphs 2d(l) through 

eclassified and approved for CON Fl DE NT f AL elease by NSA on 02-04-2014 

ursuantto E .0. 13526 
2d(l3) of reference (a) end any others which may be specified by the 

''Special Committee of the National Security Council for COMSEC Mattera" 

or the "United States Communications Security Board". ;.;J-,;.--i '/4> "/:U'/. 

iif¢¢tt1¢J -ti ¢¢tlfl;t.¢ '¢ti1itt¢~ ~t t~¢ ;¢p-ff;lt,~t ~t ;,;¢~'¢ ,,, ~'f-~1 

Pi,¢¢;.. Yxfi.~¢f t'li.¢ ~~f,ti~IJ.t ~~~ t¢¢'1ii.i¢'i l~~tf~t ~f "/:/..~ ;tf,ltrJf I ;¢;.J 

'~i¢¢t tr/> tj¢ -/.:lrtli~i-i¢ ~if¢¢ti~~ ~t f;li.¢ J~l:J.i ~~t¢f- ~f ¢t-fti ~ -1./J 

i¢¢'1P.il-t ¢~ ~ttif' t~¢ ~tt¢¢"/.r/>f J ~' -~~tt ~¢i '' i~¢ ~g~~t f,1 l:J.~ 

l~i~t ¢~i¢t; ~I ¢t,il/ With respect to the military departments, the 

Director, NSA, will perform his COMSEC functions under the immediate 

direction of the Joint Chiefs of Sta:ff, and in technical matters comiDJ 

within these functions, he sha11 act as the agent or the Joint Chiefs ot 

Stef'i'. 

4 In fulfilling his ~~~itli.¢~ COMSEC responsibilities 1i~t' i~~ 

~itff.~ff f.,t-.Y,ii~l/Jrlirl~t, the Director, NSA, will be JJ,i;..¢t. bound by the 

provisions of reference (a)i and in the fields of cryptosecurity, transmission security, physical security, and cover and deception, it shall be 

a To obtatn fro~ t~e military departments such in:formetion as 

he may require in performing his functions, as authorized in this directive 

or any other direc~~~-Y~~s~-~1ently issued 

b. ~/ To pre~cribe, or review and approve, the cryptoprinciplea 

incorporated. or to be lncorpo1ated in any telecommunications equipments 

and syst(>ms and in any COHSfC equipments and systems 

£._~I To p1<?sc111f' or review and approve, cryptosecurity rules, 

regulations, and lnstructiono .:ipplicable to the operation and use of any 

" '-

CON FI DE NT I AL 
crypto-equipments and systems and of any COMSEC equipments and systems. 

d ¢/ To perform technical enalysis of military teleconmunicationa - . for the purpose of determining the degree of COMSEC being provided by the 

cryptoprinciples, materials and procedures used, ~ttil~¢' 11~1~ f:I.¢ 

-/J.fJ.t#H ¢-i~tl,'la/1¢itJ as well as the effect on COMSEC of the commun1-

cations procedures and practices being utilized., making arrangements as 

appropriate to obtain the material required for such analysis 

.!:.!_ '/ To review and evaluate communications procedures developed 

within the 'li/.ilt~tl ¢,i-~ii,"/tli.¢~.;, Department of Defense to determine 

whether such procedures will provide and maintain transmission security; 

and, in conjunction with the military departments, develop and establish 

such revisions and additional rules and procedures as may be required. 

114. U ¢'#Y,it'1' ft/.¢' -# -Pf~¢¢,#¢'1 -- t~riJif¢,J/y"'trN. YI.ii "11.~Uf~ 

-¢tj¢-jUY,i, ,tp:/4.lH.' 'l-~i-f¢~f I The Director, NSA, may perform technilcal 

analyses of military telecommunications and shall make the necessary 

arrangements to obtain the material required for analysis 

!,_ ¢/ To prescribe minimum standards for the physical security 

of cryptomaterial 

a_ ti To assist in the preparation of '-"11J. ~ to review the 

communications portions of all non-tact1cal cover and deception plane. 

To formulate and promulgate the basic policies used in such portions. 

!!__ ti To reveive '-if¢¢ffJ from the military departments '"'-

'"~-¢1'' their requirements for COMSEC research and development, and 

provide for review, coordination and approval of all t/.~.,.·~1'irJ,ttr/>~~ 

-~rJ#lt1 COMSEC research and development programs In so doing, he Will 

3 

CONFIDENTIAL 
DACPrtain the extent 1~f JOint or common interest in the requirements and 

the mccns by Wh.Lch requirements may best be satisfied. For the purpose 

of obtaJning on a continuing basis, technical information pertaining to 

C'OMSEC requirements, he is authorized ~ft¢1'/. access, through appropriate 

channels to the original elements generating the requirements. 

!:. "-1 To formulate an integrated program for ~{>·/.r/rl/r/.l,ttt/J.P.I 

,_~'tJ:f t~I COMSEC research and development to meet the requirements of the 

military departments -'{4. -g¢-~t¢' in order to ensure the continuing security 

ot their telecommunications 

J.:. ti In consonance with the policies of the Department ot 

Defense, to execute an integrated research and development program adequate 

to achieve a aatisfactory state or COMSEC -~'111folH.rJ~tt~-/t' -~-HtfJ. In so 

doing, he shall conduct the necessary research and development, lr/J"'-f.Ht 

delegate the assignment of COMSEC ¢~"'1/ifl.i"-ti~~, ''¢.Jittl research and 

developnent projects to the military departments '-/ii. -IJ~¢1/.,, and 

auperviae the im;plementation thereof. 

~ II To inform any military department t/Jt ;t,rf/,./.I which has 

expressed interest in ¢~t~;f,t~{t; 'J¢~ttl COMSJOC: research and 

development projects of the progress being made. 

k 'J.I To receive directly from the milituy departments '--14 

~"~'''' their requirements (other than research and. development) tor 

c'OMSBC equipaents and Jll8teri&l8 I and provide for reVieW' I Coordination, and 

approval of ell CCJ.SEC production and procurement progr8J118. 

!!:. ti To formulate an integrated program tor the production 

and procurement of COMSEX: equipaenta and materials. 

CONFIDENTIAL 
!!.... ¢J To produce cryptomaterial necessary to meet the legitimate 

requirements of the military departments -{4. 'i¢~~i¢~ end to ensure that 

there is adequate capacity to meet these requirements In so doing, the 

Director, NSA, may '~f:l,.~fl:/,~ ~f rJlt¢¢t delegate authority to the military 

departments -"'4. -g¢~¢i¢- to engage in the production of cryptomateriel. 

Such production will be conducted in accordance with technical cryptologic 

criteria prescribed by the Director, NSA., and he will be kept informed of 

the production accomplished 

2- ~I 1¢ ¢tt~¢t ~¢¢¢,,_fl ¢~-ti~ititi ~~' '~frJ..i~-ti""­

~t ¢¢~'tJJ ¢dJlil!r/i.¢~tJ -"1;/.. ¢1.t¢fi,iJI In meeting operational requirements, ~-

common requirements, the standardization of crYl?to-equipments and material 

in order to promote a max~ of efficiency and economy in their procurement, operation, and mai.n_tena~ 

p_ ~J To furnish services end materials for the COMSEC program 

of the military departments ~~~ ,i~~¢i¢i under mutually agreeable fiscal 

arrangements 

.9.... '' To provide t~chnical guidance end support for COI\iSFX: 

training conducted by the milttary departments ~~ 'g¢~¢i¢,. 

!_ t/. To arrange with the authorized representatives of a 

military departmen~_for re9...uired li8ison with subordinate elements of that 

department. 

a ti '.;['o rP_f££ yiolatrnns of COMSEC 1llstructione to the .,,.~,,.;. 

~1 '!$.¢ military departm~_n!._~_o_nccrned for such action as may be deemed 

necessary, and if BE}?rorri~_!~ coJrective action is not taken, refer the 

5 

CONFIDENTIAL 
~fT\11=1.~JfJAi SECUIDl'i INF'ORMAT!oN 9"" ..L. ... .... .a. .-.-- .... ... - ... 

- QQlft1tDEN11!11L -\SECORII r I'Ifti'OM\Itt'fielf 

subject to the Joint Chiefs of Staff 

2._ Except on matters which have been voted on by the Board and 

subject to the direction of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs 

of Staff, the Director, NSA, shall disc!large hie responsibilities with 

respect to the military departments in accordance with his own judgm.ent. 

~ j/ In COMSEC matters, it shall be the responsibility of the 

military departments 'p' 'g¢p¢i,, 

a To organize end conduct their COMSEC activities as they see 

fit subject to the provisions of the law, the directives of the President, 

the provisions of reference (a), the provisions of this directive, and any 

other directives issued by the United States COJtDD.unications Security Board 

or the Secretary of Defense. Nothing in this directive shall relieve the 

military departments of their responsibilities for executing all measures 

resuired to assure the security and efficiency of their own telecommunications 

b. -.1 To provide all lawful assistance required by the United 

States Communications Security Board • 

.£.=_ Y,J To provide the Director, NSA, with such information -·IJ.i/. 

in the ;eerformance of his functions, and with such assistance as is within 

their capabilities 

~ ¢1 To provide logistic support of J¢i.. ¢r/Jrliftt4 -¢il1ttt~'J --

i¢"/4fla.t~~ ~¢¢,~i~fJ ~ti~¢ ;tf~¢i¢f/ j¢1/../ the National Security Agency as 

required by the Dirf'ctor 1 NSA, in order that he may fulfill his COMSEC 

responsibilities 

e. ~/ To furnish to the Director, NSA., the materials necessary 

6 

CONFIDENTIAL 
for hie technlcal analyais of military telecommunications 

!__ ~j To submit all COM.SEC research and development requirements ~itfitti to the Director, NSA, for his action and to keep him 

currently advised of any changes therein 

.&... ii To accomplish such COMSEC research and development 

projects as may be approved or 'J~if;li.~' delegated by the Director, NSA. 

Sub,1ect to prior notificatton to and approval by the Director, NSA, the 

military departments ~i~ ~t¢~¢i¢¢ may inltiate and pursue such research 

and development projects ae may be necessary to support their COMSEC 

activities 

h iJ To determine the acceptability of COMSEC equipments in 

meeting their expressed operational requirements Military departments 

'{4.. ii¢~¢i¢~ will furnish the Director, NSA, 'f~JrP~ timely notification of 

service test findings When equipment developed to meet joint or co.tmn0n 

requirements is service tested, such teats will be conducted in accordance 

with coordinated Service programs established by the Director, NSA. 

i ~j To submit all requirements, other than research and 

development, for COMSEC equipments and materials directly to the Director, 

' NSA., in accordance with procedures established. by him 

.J_ ti To 'T~¢-tf¢/ organize, train, equip, operate, administer, 

budget f2!, and provide logistic support to their respective COMSEC 

activities This will include provision of --d.~M.'l.t¢ reserve programs to 

meet emergency or wartime requirements. 

!..:, JI To perform, under mutually agreeable fiscal arrangements, 

such COMSEC tasks and functions as may be specified by the Director, NSA, 

and are within their capabilities ~i¢f r/r.iJ.iWJ.iii _tf,¢-~i¢ li,¢-t '11Jii¢r/i¢~i-I 

C0NFIDENTI1A1L 
----~-------- - - -

'i2~~1aA:iisHetltti'f"' ffff'eRMMteN 

-I!'fiftPOt<leac non 

1 YI To provide the necessary COMSEC facilities and resources 

fcir thf> supp< 1rt or military operations and of the National COMSEC ettort 

in accordance with assigned responsibilities and within their capabilities. 

~I ~~/l~t~t ¢~1¢1' ~t ¢t-tt Yttt ''~i't ;.y.; ;-tt~t ¢r/AliftiJI, ;tf~f1. 

fJ ~Hfilf/Ji N' t41¢tltr/>t J j#J 1..;1.t'P. t"'¢ ¢¢'/#11 -l'l:J.#¢PJ°'f.' l>f il>IJ.t 

ftl.ttPITi 'if'f.~gf.¢ 1~ l/J.' ''if/i!/.t¢'1 

7. The Director, NSA, will arrange with the appropriate authorities 

of departments eild agencies of the Government outside the military 

establishment for the exercise of his authority over COMSEC matters ~ted I 

in reference (a). 

8. In accordance with the policies established by the United States 1 

Communications Security Board, end in behalf of the Executive Agent of 

the government for ell COMSEC matters, the Director, BSA., will conduct the 

liaison on technical COMSEC and related matters with the cryptologi~ 

euthori ties of foreign nations and international organizations. ~ 

military departments will be invited to participate in any international_ 

conference called for the purpose of determining the crypto-equipments 

and/or materials to be used to provide security to communications between 

the military forces of the United States and those of the United Kingdom 

or Canada. 

9. Appeals from any decision of the United States Communications 

Security Board by the Director, NSA, or by the representative of any ot 

the military departments, shall be filed only with the approval of the 

Secretary of Defense In the event that a military department objects to 

any decision of the Director, NSA, that department Will call the matter 

to the attention of the Directorz NSA.. If' the matter in question cannot 

8 

CONFIDENTil ... L 
lie !E-~l-.!t~d ef_!ier constderation by the Dir~~...L.1.~.§A 1 and the head of 

the d~_rtment co~z.:!1edJ_!~__!!E.~.!-]: __ be referred to the Joint Chief's of' 

Staff fO"t' r'!."ci.slon. 

10. ~I Special terms used in this Directive shall have the meanings 

assigned by reference (a). 

LEGEND: 

;~t-ii-- - Wording deleted from·27 Nov 53 DRAFT 

Underscore - W~:rding added to 27 Nov 53 DRAFT 

Overscore - Wording questioned by certain participants 

but not changed. Overscored words reflects 

preference of NSA participants. 

CC>N FIDtNT IAL