Exf'&mvE ·C~F~OtlltHk~ENT NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL 

WASHINGTON 

stm.JECT1 

REn:!mlCE.1 

ca mloat.10• r«m'lt.7 

ISC 168 

~ to parat;raph l-b ot 1:he eaoloeed 

la.t.1.'>nal Securl\J' Coancil diftcUYe OD ·the subject (}rr-:: 1£,8) 

it 1• recpested that. you deaignate a a 1•ber to reprennt ,aa 

on the um.tad S\atd Conmioat.iona Seca1"1.'7 :loud. l 

1ben all 1"8pr•tmktiftS ha'99 bem dewinnated 

t.:118 orttce wUl ~~ tor tm ca111ng ot an OJ:ganl.sat.1onal ..urie or thl Board. / · · 

ec: ;. 

JA11J!:!, s-•. l.AY, Jr. 

Y.amU..,,e ~ 

. : . · . ., ·~ ·. r . ·-

.. .... . 

.... 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 01-31-2014 pursuantto E.O. 1352a 
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24 April 1954 

NUMBER C-5200. 5 

Department of Defense Directive 

SUBJECT Communications Security (COMSEC) 

f'erences: (a) NSC 'Directive on Commu.nications Security, (NSC 168) 

dtd 20 Oct 53 

{b) SecDef' Memorandum: Interiln Responsibility for COMS.Fc, 

dtd 5 Dec 52 

(c) NSCID No. 9 Revised, dtd 24 Oct S2 

(d) Secretary or Defense Directive: Implenentation of 

NSCID No. 9 Revised, dtd 5 Dec 52 

l. This Directive is issued for the purpose ot implanenting within 

the Department of Defense the provisions o£ reference (a) am supersedes 

rei'ere11ce (b). All directives, orde.rs, or instructions relating to COMSEC 

atters issued by any authorities within the Department of Detense Which 

are lnconsistent or at variance with the provisions of this Directive will 

e rescinded or revised in consonance therewith. 

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

as Executive Agent of the Government for all COMS.En matters. 

3. The National Security Agency (NSA) was authorized by ref'erence (c) 

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

A, on an iterim basis, the responsib:ility for COMS:OO activities and reated matters previously assigned to the Director, Armed Forces Security 

gency (AFSA). The Direcior, NSA, has now been designated to act for the 

ecutive Agent in all CCMSPD matters set forth in paragraphs 2d(l) through. 

d (13) ot reference (a) and a.qy others which :nay be specified by the '6pec1al. 

OTJanittee or the National Security Council for COMS~ Matters", or the '~ted 

tates Canmunications Security Board" hereinafter referred to as the Board. 

1th respect to military CCMSEC and to communications portions of military 

over and deception, Director, National. Security Agency will be guided by 

pproved policy, plans and doctrine developed by the Joint Chiefs of Starr. 

4. In fulfilling his COMB~ responsibilities, the Director, NSA, will 

e governed by the provisions ot reference (a) and by relevant policies and 

irectives ot the Department of Defense. Consistent therewith, in the 

ields ot cryptosecurity, transmission security, peysical security, and 

over and deception, it shall be his responsibility to fulfill the approved 

equirements of the J~ and of the individual military departments arising 

om the per!onnance of their assigned responsibilities specifically: 

a. To obtain fran the Secretary of Detense, the Joint Chiefs of 

ta.rt ariJ./or military departments such inf'onnation as he may require in 

er.forming his :functions, as authorized in this directive. 

CONAOENTIAL Sec Def Control No. C-1293 
tJNADENffi ID:A72220~ 

b. To prescribe, or review and approve, the cryptoprinciples 

incorporated or to be incorporated in any telecanmunications equipnents 

and systans and in any CCJ4S~ equipments and systems. 

c. To prescribe, or review and approve, cryptosecurity rules, 

regulations, and instructions a~plicable to the operation and use of any 

crypto-equipnents and systems and of any CG'ISEx:: equipnents and systens. 

d. To perform technical analysis of military telecommunications 

for the purpose of determining the degree of CQ\'IS.EXJ being provided by the 

cryptoprinciples, materials and procedures used, as well as the effect on 

C01'5:ID of the canmunications procedures and practices being utilized; making arrangE!l"lents with the military departments to obtain the material 

required for such analysis. 

e. To review and evaluate carum.mications procedures developed 

by the military departments to determine whether such procedures will provide and maintain transmission security; and to recommend revisions• and 

additional rules and procedures as requir~d. To accomplish this, the 

Director,, NSA, may perform technical analyses of military telecarurru.nications and shall make the necessary arranganents with the Joint Chiefs of 

Staf'f and/ or military departments to obtain the material requi.J'ed for such 

analysis. 

t. To prescribe minimum standards for the physical security of 

CI')rptanaterial, in collaboration with the military departments as appropriate. 

g. To assist in the preparation of or to review as appropriate 

the-canmunications portions of military cover and deception plans of the 

Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Military Departments. To formulate in collaboration with the Joint Chiefs of Sta.ff the standards for and techniques 

used in such portions. 

h. To receive fran the military departments their research and 

development programs and/or requirements for crypto-equipments and materials, 

and provide for review, coordination, and approval of all such research and 

development programs. In so doing, he will ascertain fran the Joint Chiefs 

at Staff the extent of joint or common interest in the programs and/or requirements. · 

i. In consonan~e with the policies of the Departmmt of Defense, 

and adv.i.sing with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to fomulate an integrated 

program for cryptosecurity research and developnent to met the requirements 

of the military departments in order to insure the continuing security of 

their telecommunications. 

j. To provide for the conduct of an integrated research and 

developnent program adequate to achieve a satisfactory state of cryptosecurity. 

k. To inform aey military department which has expressed interest in cryptosecurity research a,nd develapment projects of the progress being 

made. CONADENTIAL - ~ -

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REF ID:A72220 

CONFiDENTiM: • 24 Apr 54 

c-5200.5 

1. To receive frOlll the military departments their quantitative 

requirements tor crypto-equipnents and materials, and provide for review, 

coordination, and approval of all crypto-equipment and material production 

and procure111ent programs. 

m. In consonance with the policies or the Department of Defense 

and advising with the Joint Chiefs or Staff, to formulate an integrated program for the production and procurement of crypto-equipments and materials. 

n. To produce cryptomaterial necessary to meet the requirements 

of the military departments and to insure that there is adequate capacity 

to meet these requirsnents. In so doing, the Director, HSA, by mutual 

agreement will authorize the military departments to engage in the production 

of cryptanaterial. Such production will be conducted in accordance with 

technical cryptologic criteria prescribed by the Dir~tor, ~, and he will 

be kept infonned or the production accanplished. 

o. In meeting operational requirements, to insure the necessary 

canpatibility and, insofar as practicable, the standardization of cryptoequipnents and material in order to promote a maximum of efficiency and 

economy in their procursnent, operation, and maintenance. Determination 

or the acceptability of an equipment in meeting the operational requirsnents 

is the responsibility or each military department. 

p. To furnish services and materials far the COI-iSEC program of 

the military departments under mutually agreeable fiscal arrangements. 

q. To provide technical guidance and support for cryptosecurity 

training conducted by the military departments. 

r. To arrange with the authorized representatives ot a military 

department for required liaison with subordinate elanents of that department. 

s. To refer violations ot COMS.&: instructions to the authorized 

representatives of the military department· concerned for such action as may 

be deemed necessary, and if appropriate corrective action is not taken refer 

the matter to the Secretary or Defense at the same time informing the Joint 

Chiefs of Starr. 

5. The Director, NSA,, shall discharge his responsibilities with respect 

to the military departments in accordance with his own jud~ent, subject to 

the provisions of this directive. 

6. In COM3EC matters, it shall be the responsibility of the military 

departments: 

a. To organize and conduct their CQ1SFI: activities as they see 

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

provisions ot reference (a), and the provisions of this directive. Nothing 

in this directive shall relieve the military departments of their responsibilities for executing all measures required to assure the security and 

efficiency ot their own telecommunications. 

CONADENTIAL - 3 -
• CONifn"'\>1=A72220 •. - IHI; 

b. To provide all lawful assistance required by the Board. 

c. To provide the Director, NSA, with such infonnation (including budgetary and fiscal), and logietic and other assistance as he may 

require in the perfomance ·or his functions, as authorized in this directive. 

d. To furnish in a mutually agreeable manner to "the Director, NSA, 

the materials necessar;y for his technical analysis of military telecommuni• 

cations. 

e. To submit all research and development requiranents for cryptoequipments and material to the Director, NSA,. and to keep h:i.Jil currently advised 

of any changes therein. 

t. To accomplish in a mutually agreeable manner such COMSID 

research and development projects as may be authorized by the Director, NSA. 

Subject to prior notification to and approval by the Director, NSA1 to 

initiate and conduct such research and developnent projects as may be necessar,y to support their CCJilS~ activities. 

g. To detel"l'line the acceptabilit~· of crypto-equiJlll.ents in meeting 

their expressed operational requirements. Military departments will furnish 

the Director, NSA, timely notification of service test .findings. When equipment developed to meet joint or common requirements is service tested, the 

departments concerned will conduct their service tests so as to achieve maximum results 'with the procurement of the minimum number of service test models • 

h. To submit all quantitative requirements for crypto-equipments 

and materials to the Director, NSA1 in accordance with procedures established 

by him. 

i. To organize, train, equip, operate, administer, budget for, 

and provide logistic support to their respective COMSF..C activities. This 

will include provision of reserve programs to me et anergency or wartime 

requiran ents. 

j. To perform, under mutually agreeable arrangements, such COl\'51!0 

tasks and functions as may be requested by the Director, NSA. 

k. To provide the necessary CCJll'.Slll:: facilities and resources for 

the support of the military et.fort, in accordance with the responsibilitie~ 

of the military departments. 

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

of departments and agencies of the Government outside the Department of 

Defense for the exercise of the authority aver cai:sm:: matters granted in 

paragraph 2 of reference (a). 

B. In accordance with the policies established by the Board, and in 

behalf of the Executive Agent of the Government for all COMSE£ matters, the 

Director, NSA, \orill conduct the liaison on technical COMSEX: and related 

matters with the cryptologic authorities of .foreign nations and internationaJ. 

organizations. The military departments shall be invited to participate in 

any international conference called for the purpose of determining the ccyptoCONADENTJAL ~ 4 -

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REF ID:A72220 

CONFIDEtfflAL • 24 Apr 54 

C-5200.5 

equipnents, procedures, and/or materials to be used to provide security to 

canmunications between the military forces of the United States and those 

of other countries. 

9. Appeals from any decision of the Board by the Director, NSA, or by 

the representative of any of the military departments, shall be filed only 

with the approval of the Secretary ot Defense. In the event that a military 

deparbnent objects to any decision of the Director, NSA,, tfiat department will 

call the matter to the attention of the Director, NSA. If the matter in 

question cannot be resolved after consideration by the Director, NSA, and 

the department concerned, that department will refer the matter to the Secretary of Defense at the same time informing the Joint Chiefs of Start. 

10. If in the implementation of COMSJ!D directives or requirenents it 

becomes apparent that t.'1.e primary mission of a military department will be 

adversely affected or its budgetary authorization will be exceeded, such 

directives or requirernents will be implemented to the greatest extent practicable consistent with the execution of primary missions and consistent with 

budgetary l:lmitatians, pending resolution. 

11. The military departments shall not be required to disclose to the 

Director, NSA, the Board, or any of its cormnittees tite contents of arr.1 official conmru.nications concerning its activities, if,, in the opinion of the 

head of the dcpart:nent, the disclosure would be contrary to the national 

interest • 

12. Nothing in this directive shall be construed to give the Board or 

any of its representatives the right to insp&ct the operat:i.On of CONS~ in 

aey- military department without approval by the head thereof. 

13. Special terms used in this directive shall have the me anin.gs assigned 

by reference (a) • 

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CONFIDENllAL