www.nasa.gov

Office of Security and Program Protection

Counterintelligence Program

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Informational newsletter on 

Counterintelligence 

and Counterterrorism issues affecting NASA

All Eyes on

January 2008 Edition 

NASA Counterintelligence 

Program 

Since its establishment in 1958, NASA has realized invaluable 

accomplishments in the development of aeronautics and in the 

exploration of space, enabling the US to become a global leader 

in these fields. NASA has forged relationships with industry, 

academia, government, and international partners.

NASA’s unique span of activities ranges from partnering with 

multiple US government agencies on highly classified and/or 

sensitive projects to formal research and development with 

industry and foreign countries on projects such as the 

International Space Station. This unique environment presents 

NASA with many challenges and makes the agency potentially 

vulnerable to information and technology exploitation. Balancing 

its collaborative work with the need to protect classified and 

sensitive but unclassified information, NASA is often targeted by 

adversaries, both government and private, who seek to unlawfully 

acquire critical US technologies, trade secrets, and sensitive 

information. 

NASA is a very visible symbol of US national power. As such, it 

provides a unique opportunity for terrorists to embarrass and 

challenge the view of American power around the globe. 

Terrorists know that a disruption or destruction of sensitive 

projects would send powerful messages around the globe about 

our vulnerabilities and the terrorist’s capabilities to continue to 

attack symbols of American strength, innovation, and freedom. 

To counter these threats, NASA administers a centralized 

Counterintelligence (CI) Program from NASA HQ. The 

program employs career professional counterintelligence special 

agents at each NASA Center responsible for delivering 

specialized CI and Counterterrorism (CT) services to Center 

personnel as well as serving as the principal advisor to Center 

Directors on CI and CT related issues.

The objective of the CI Program is to detect, deter, and neutralize 

potential threats posed by foreign intelligence services (FIS), 

other foreign entities, and acts of terrorism. This is accomplished 

in part by maintaining a close working relationship with the US 

Intelligence Community and by proactively integrating CI 

activities into Center awareness programs, foreign travel briefings 

and debriefings, foreign visitor escorts, technology protection 

programs, special threat assessments, and the dissemination of 

tailored analytical products designed to reduce NASA 

vulnerabilities. 

The most essential element of the program is awareness. A 

strong CI and CT awareness among the general NASA 

population is vital to protecting NASA information (e.g., 

proprietary information, sensitive but unclassified, export 

controlled, ITAR, and classified national security information) 

and ensuring all NASA personnel are cognizant of current threats 

posed by FIS and terrorists. The monthly publication of the All 

Eyes on NASA newsletter will serve as a venue to meet that 

objective. We welcome your comments. 

Counterintelligence Quote of the Month 

“It is essential to seek out enemy agents who have come to 

conduct espionage against you...” 

-- Sun Tzu, The Art of War 

 

Office of Security and 

Program Protection 

Assistant Administrator 

David E. Saleeba 

Deputy Assistant Administrator 

Counterintelligence Program Staff 

Director Editor Operations 

A publication of the Office of Security and 

Program Protection Counterintelligence Program. (b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C)

(b) (6), (b) (7)(C)
All Eyes on NASA page 2 

Counterintelligence News 

FBI: The Spying Game 

Foreign Spy Activity Surges To Fill Technology Gap 

Spying up to near Cold War Levels 

Global Spies Target US Computers 

Spy of the Month: Larry Wu-Tai Chin 

Videos: 

 "You Are a Potential Recruitment" 

Foreign Travel 

Countries that target US technology 

China 

Russia 

Cuba 

For more Foreign Travel 

Information contact the CI office 

at your center and visit the 

following web sites: 

Department of State 

Department of Energy Travel 

Memo 

Ways to protect 

yourself on travel: 

1. Have a set travel 

itinerary and schedule 

2. Watch for suspicious 

packages and individuals. 

3. Do not dress like an 

affluent tourist. Maintain 

a low profile. 

Counterterrorism News 

Contributed by NASA Counterintelligence Special Agent

Cyberwar! 

IEDs in the US? 

Mass Terror Attack Drill 

Home Grown Counterterrorist 

Terror Attacks and Incidents Worldwide 

http://www.globalincidentmap.com 

CI Awareness 

Help your country and put money in your pocket: the 

Attorney General has recently authorized a reward of up 

to $500,000 for information that leads to the arrest and 

conviction of a person who commits or conspires to 

commit an act of espionage or that leads to the 

prevention of an act of espionage. 

CI Knowledge

140 nations spend part of their GNP on conducting 

intelligence activities against the U.S. 

Did you know? 

TRASHINT: The technique used to 

recover sensitive but unclassified 

information about US security 

operations and capabilities that has 

been carelessly thrown away. Also 

called “Dumpster Diving.” 

(b) (6), 

(b) (7)

(C)

(b) (6), (b) (7)(C)
All Eyes on NASA page 3 

Foreign Intelligence 

Collection Efforts against 

US Technologies 

Collection Activity Conducted against Aeronautics/Space 

Systems by Region 

East Asia and Pacific 37.74%

Near East 16.54% 

South Asia 16.54% 

Eurasia 15.06%

Western Hemisphere 10.24% 

Africa 02.22% 

Percent of Aeronautical Systems Targeted 

Aerodynamics 

Aeronautical Propulsion 

Aeronautical Structures 

Aeronautical Vehicle Control 

Aeronautical Subsystems and Components 

Aeronautical Design and Systems Integration 

Aeronautics (Uncategorized)

3.48%

13.04%

10.43% 

2.61%

17.39% 

5.22% 

47.83%

Methods of operation for gathering intelligence on Space 

Systems 

Request for Information 

Exploitation of a foreign visit (CONUS) 

Exploitation of Relationships 

Acquisition of Controlled Technology 

Suspicious Internet Activity 

Cultural Commonality 

Targeting at Conventions/Seminars 

Solicitation of Marketing Services 

Other 

29.35% 

6.52% 

4.35% 

46.74% 

1.09% 

1.09%

2.17%

7.61%

1.09% 

Did you Know? 

NASA Center program and project managers may request a tailored CI

Threat Assessment to be conducted at their facility or special project to 

evaluate the overall susceptibility to foreign intelligence service or terrorism 

collection or targeting. The assessments are designed to provide decision 

makers with a tool to evaluate internal protection or security in order to 

further enhance the protection of NASA equities. 

NASA Center CI Offices 

NASA Headquarters 

Ames Research Center 

Dryden Flight Research Center 

 

Glenn Research Center 

Goddard Space Flight Center 

Jet Propulsion Laboratory 

 

Johnson Space Center 

Kennedy Space Center 

Langley Research Center 

Marshall Space Center 

Stennis Space Center 

www.nasa.gov


(b) (6), (b) (7)

(C)

(b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)

(C)

(b) (6), (b) (7)

(C)

(b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)

(C)

(b) (6), (b) (7)

(C)

(b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)

(C)