Office of Protective 

 Services 

Director, Counterintelligence 

NASA CI/CT MONTHLY NEWS UPDATE – July 2016 

This monthly newsletter is published to increase NASA personnel awareness of significant current 

issues related to counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and counterintelligence cyber matters. To 

learn more about CI/CT awareness, or to schedule a CI/CT presentation, please contact the CI 

POC located on the last page. 

Significant Counterterrorism (CT) Issues: 

FBI DIRECTOR: ISIS IS TOP THREAT TO US

The Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) remains the top threat America is facing, 

FBI Director James Comey said recently. Comey said the threat stems 

from the terror group’s success in recruiting fighters both overseas and in 

America. 

https://www.clarionproject.org/news/fbi-director-isis-top-threat-us

CIA DIRECTOR: US HASN’T BEEN ABLE TO CURB ISLAMIC STATE’S REACH

The U.S. battle against the Islamic State has not yet curbed the group's global 

reach. As pressure mounts on the extremists in Iraq and Syria, they are 

expected to plot more attacks on the West and incite violence by lone wolves, 

CIA Director John Brennan told Congress during recent testimony. 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-cia-director-islamic-state-20160616-story.html

ISIS SHOWS IT WON’T BE DISLODGED QUICKLY OR EASILY

Even as internationally backed forces chip away at ISIS-held territory in 

Syria, Iraq and Libya, the militants have demonstrated a stubborn resilience 

this month in the face of recent losses. 

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/isis-offense-syria-iraq-libya-bombs-raqqa-fallujah-sirte/

Significant Counterintelligence Issues: 

ENGINEER FACES ESPIONAGE CHARGES AFTER ALLEGEDLY STEALING CODE 

An engineer is facing economic espionage charges after allegedly attempting 

to sell proprietary source code stolen from his former employer. Authorities 

said Xu Jiaqiang, 30, sold the stolen code, which originated from an 

American company, to undercover agents with the intent of benefiting a 

Chinese government agency.http://www.scmagazine.com/feds-charge-engineerwith-economic-espionage-for-stealing-source-code/article/503381/

(b) (6), (b) (7)(C) (b) (6), (b) (7)(C)
DECADES AFTER COLD WAR’S END, U.S.-RUSSIA ESPIONAGE EVOLVES 

High on a hill, in a leafy, residential neighborhood between Georgetown and the 

National Cathedral, the Russian Embassy sits behind tall gates. It was here, in the 

1980s, that the FBI and the National Security Agency built a tunnel — a secret 

tunnel that started beneath one of the pleasant-looking houses lining Wisconsin 

Avenue and extended over to the neighboring embassy. 

http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/06/15/481440402/decades-after-cold-wars-end-u-s-russiaespionage-rivalry-evolves

CHINESE ESPIONAGE AND INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITES AT ALL-TIME HIGH 

Chinese intelligence operations worldwide to steal important information 

both through human agents and cyber-attacks are a growing threat, 

according to experts who testified at a US congressional commission. 

Beijing’s spies, operating through the civilian Ministry of State Security and 

People’s Liberation Army Intelligence Bureau (IB), have scored impressive 

gains against the United States in particular, where economic espionage — the theft of trade 

secrets and high technology — remains at unprecedented levels. 

http://atimes.com/2016/06/chinese-espionage-and-intelligence-activities-at-all-time-high-experts-say/

Analyst Notes – Items to Watch: 

 The ISIS attacks in Turkey and Orlando have shown the worldwide reach that ISIS continues 

to possess. ISIS is exploiting its ability to inspire sympathizers and followers to attack the West 

instead of relying on conventional battlefield victories. ISIS continues to attract radical Islamic 

followers worldwide, with the number of groups pledging allegiance now over 45. Espionage 

challenges for the United States have not ceased, they have just evolved. Russia and China 

continue to focus their espionage and collection efforts towards the U.S. and Western 

technology. The NASA CI/CT division continues to monitor these threats and any others that 

have the potential to harm NASA or its equities. 

NASA CI Offices:

Ames Research Center:

Armstrong Flight Research Center:

Glenn Research Center:

Goddard Space Flight Center: 

Jet Propulsion Laboratory:

Johnson Space Center: 

Kennedy Space Center:

Langley Research Center:

Marshall Space Flight Center:

NASA Headquarters:

Stennis Space Center:

NASA Headquarters Cyber:

NCIJTF Cyber:

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