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National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

INSTRUCTION

NUMBER 5700.1

19 January 2021

OCC

SUBJECT: Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Award Program

References: (a) 5 CFR, Part 451, Subpart A, “Agency Awards”

(b) DoD Instruction 1400.25 Volume 451, “DoD Civilian Personnel 

Management System: Awards,” 04 November 2013

(c) NGA Instruction 1432.1, “Civilian Awards and Recognition,” 

05 December 2005, Administrative Update 2, 16 March 2018

(d) NGA Instruction 8040.2, “Records Management Program,” 

21 October 2020

(e) Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Standard Operating Procedures, 

current edition

1. PURPOSE. This Instruction:

a. Establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for the

establishment, administration, management, and oversight of the Geospatial 

Intelligence Hall of Fame Award Program in accordance with (IAW) References (a), (b), 

and (c).

b. Rescinds NGA Instruction 5700.1, “Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Award

Program,” 06 October 2015, Administrative Update 2, 07 January 2020.

2. APPLICABILITY. This Instruction applies to all NGA civilian employees, military

service members, and other Government agency personnel assigned to NGA.

3. DEFINITIONS. See Glossary.

4. POLICY. It is NGA policy to recognize individuals whose accomplishments have

shown them to be visionaries, leaders, and innovators who have contributed to the 

advancement of the GEOINT tradecraft or increased the value of GEOINT for national 

decision makers, military commanders, NGA, NGA Heritage Organizations, or NGA 

customers and partners IAW References (a) and (b). 

5. RESPONSIBILITIES. See Enclosure 1.

6. PROCEDURES. See Enclosure 2.
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7. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Instruction is effective on the date of signature.

Ernest B. Markham

Chief of Staff

Enclosures

1. Responsibilities

2. Procedures

3. Milestones

Glossary
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHANGE LOG ...................................................................................................................... 4

ENCLOSURE 1: RESPONSIBILITIES ................................................................................ 5

Director, NGA .............................................................................................................. 5

Chief of Staff................................................................................................................ 5

Director, Office of Corporate Communications .............................................................. 5

Chief, Protocol Division, Office of Corporate Communications....................................... 6

Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Selection Board Voting Members ......................... 6

Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Selection Board Secretary.................................... 6

Chair, National Geospatial-Intelligence Alumni Association Board of Directors............... 6

NGA Historian.............................................................................................................. 7

Chief Financial Executive ............................................................................................. 7

General Counsel.......................................................................................................... 7

Inspector General......................................................................................................... 7

Director, Office of Contracting Services ........................................................................ 7

ENCLOSURE 2: PROCEDURES ........................................................................................ 8

ENCLOSURE 3: MILESTONES ........................................................................................ 12

GLOSSARY ........................................................................................................................ 13

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ENCLOSURE 1

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Director, NGA (D/NGA).

a. Designates the Director, Office of Corporate Communications (D/OCC) to manage 

the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Award Program. 

b. Designates the Chief of Staff (CoS) to serve as the chair for the Geospatial 

Intelligence Hall of Fame Selection Board.

c. Selects the voting members of the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Selection 

Board IAW Enclosure 2 Paragraph 4 of this Instruction.

d. Renders a final decision on inductees to the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame.

e. Signs notification letters and certificates to be sent to the inductees or next of kin. 

f. Presides over the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Award Ceremony. 

2. CoS.

a. Chairs the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Selection Board.

b. Requests the General Counsel (GC) and the Director, Office of Contracting 

Services (D/OCS) to review nomination packages as needed IAW Reference (b).

3. Director, Office of Corporate Communications (D/OCC).

a. Manages the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Award Program IAW 

References (a), (b), and (c).

b. Publicizes the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Award Program, internally and 

externally, highlighting the background and purpose of the award and the nomination 

process IAW Reference (b).

c. Plans, publicizes, and oversees the annual awards ceremony. 

d. Allocates funds issued by the Chief Financial Executive (CFE) supporting the 

Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Award Ceremony. (Reference (c))

e. Receives, processes, and consolidates nomination packages for the Geospatial 

Intelligence Hall of Fame. (Reference (c)). 
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f. Submits a slate of candidates for membership to the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of 

Fame Selection Board. 

g. Reviews list of potential inductees. 

h. Requests the Inspector General to review/vet potential inductees. 

i. Provides a staff officer to serve as the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame 

Selection Board secretary and a historian to assist the selection board. 

j. Maintains administrative records and coordinates with the NGA Historian on 

documentation required for the NGA archives IAW References (a) and (d).

k. Maintains memorialization of Hall of Fame inductees at NGA facilities and on NGA 

digital platforms.

l. Plans and oversees the conduct of the induction ceremony.

4. Chief, Protocol Division, OCC supports the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame 

Award Ceremony IAW Reference (c).

5. Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Selection Board Voting Members.

a. Review the nomination packages submitted for the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of 

Fame Award.

b. Evaluate the nominations collectively based on the criteria for induction into the 

Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame IAW Enclosure 2, Paragraph 3 of this Instruction.

c. Seek input from the non-voting board members to gain additional insight and 

solicit feedback prior to determining the slate of candidates.

d. Provide a list of potential inductees to D/OCC for review.

e. Provide a slate of candidates to D/NGA for final decision.

6. Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Selection Board Secretary.

a. Processes the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Selection Board’s slate of 

candidates for final staffing to D/NGA.

b. Serves as a non-voting member of the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame 

Selection Board.

7. Chair, National Geospatial-Intelligence Alumni Association (NGAA) Board of 

Directors appoints two members from the association; one from NGAA East Chapter, 
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and one from NGAA West Chapter to serve as non-voting members on the Geospatial 

Hall of Fame Selection Board. 

8. NGA Historian.

a. Serves as a non-voting member of the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame 

Selection Board. 

b. Coordinates with D/OCC on documentation required for the NGA archives IAW 

References (a) and (d).

9. CFE ensures funds availability for the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Award 

Ceremony each fiscal year and communicates that information to D/OCC. (References 

(a) and (c))

10. GC reviews nomination packages for contractors IAW Reference (c).

11. IG reviews/vets potential inductees. (Reference (e))

12. D/OCS reviews nomination packages for contractors IAW Reference (c).
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ENCLOSURE 2

PROCEDURES

1. Hall of Fame Award Nominations and Eligibility.

a. Any current or former DoD or IC employee, member of the NSG, or member of 

the ASG may nominate an individual for consideration for the Geospatial Intelligence 

Hall of Fame Award. 

b. Current federal employees or individuals in a related paid activity are not eligible 

to receive the Hall of Fame Award. Nominations are not limited to US citizens. If the 

nominee is a US citizen, the nominee must have concluded their federal service or 

related paid activity at least two years before their nomination to the Hall of Fame. 

2. Nomination Package.

a. The nomination package is limited to six pages, double-spaced, in Arial 12 font, 

and must include the following information:

(1) A one-page biographical essay providing general information about the 

nominee and current contact information. If the nominee had federal service, please 

include name, title, and grade/rank at time of retirement/separation; date of 

retirement/separation from civilian or military service; and elements served and location.

(2) A second narrative (between 3 to 5 pages) identifying the selection criteria 

(see Paragraph 3 below) the nominee meets and detailing the significance of those 

contributions.

(3) A brief description (no more than 100 words) of the nominee and their

accomplishments that will be used as the basis for award citation should the D/NGA 

select the nominee for induction into the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame.

b. If an organization believes that a current contractor employee at NGA meets the 

single narrow exception to the general rule that contractors and their employees may 

not be granted recognition, then the nomination MUST be coordinated with the 

appropriate contracting officer's representative, the contracting officer, and OGC to 

ensure that it does not adversely impact contract administration or ongoing business 

issues with the particular contractor IAW Reference (c). The supporting reason for 

recognition must be clearly stated.

c. All information in the package must be unclassified. As required, the submission 

of classified supporting information of no more than one double-spaced page of the six 

page maximum may be submitted to OCC via email at

d. Packages must be submitted to OCC via email at 

(b)(3) 10 USC 424 (b)(3) 10 USC 424
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e. Packages may be submitted at any time during the year, but in order to be 

considered for the current year’s selection process, nominations must be received by 

the suspense date established in OCC’s annual call for nominations (normally sent out 

in early January). See Enclosure 3 of this Instruction for specific milestones for each 

step of the Hall of Fame Award Program.

f. Packages submitted after the deadline (normally late March) will be deferred to the 

following year. 

3. Nominees must meet at least one of the Selection Criteria listed below to be eligible 

for nomination for the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Award.

a. Demonstrated significant accomplishments at NGA or one if its heritage 

organizations.

b. Demonstrated an accomplishment that transformed the GEOINT tradecraft or 

NGA operations.

c. Demonstrated a legacy of leadership that exemplifies NGA traditions and core 

values.

d. Performed a significant GEOINT contribution during a national security crisis.

e. Contributed to a technological or analytic innovation that provided greater 

geospatial understanding to the US Government.

f. Made a significant personal sacrifice in the accomplishment of the NGA mission.

g. Demonstrated significant support that greatly enhanced the NGA mission for 

individuals from other US government entities, commercial vendors, or foreign 

governments.

4. Composition and Appointment of the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Selection 

Board. 

a. The Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Selection Board is composed of a total 

of nine members, five voting and four non-voting. 

b. Voting Members.

(1) The CoS, who serves as the board’s chair.

(2) Two NGA senior executives serving at NCE.

(3) One military member (O-6 or higher) currently on assignment to NGA.
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(4) One NGA senior executive serving at a location other than NCE.

(5) In order to reflect and represent the diversity of the agency, voting members 

of the board must consist of at least 1 female and at least 1 minority – the same 

individual can’t fulfill both requirements.

c. Non-voting Members.

(1) Two members from the NGAA: one from the East Chapter, and one from the 

West Chapter, as nominated by the Chair of NGAA’s Board of Directors.

(2) The NGA Historian.

(3) The Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Selection Board Secretary.

d. A staff summary sheet with a list of prospective voting board members compiled 

by OCC will be provided to the D/NGA. D/NGA will review the list and select the board 

membership. D/NGA is the final approving authority for board membership.

e. Board Members are appointed for a one year term, however members can be 

reappointed at D/NGA’s discretion.

5. Selection and Announcement Process. 

a. The Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Selection Board carefully reviews all 

nomination packages in preparation for open discussion at the selection meeting IAW 

Reference (e). 

b. Then the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Selection Board’s open discussion 

and careful evaluation of each nominee at the selection meeting frames the decision 

sent forward to D/NGA for final approval. 

c. After thorough deliberation, an affirmative vote by three or more of the voting 

members is required to submit a nominee to D/NGA for final consideration. 

d. Potential inductees are sent to D/OCC for review.

e. Potential inductees are sent to the IG for review/vetting. 

f. The Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame Selection Board submits the final list of 

nominees to D/NGA within one week of the selection meeting. 

g. D/NGA reviews the list of nominees and renders a decision on which nominees 

will be inducted into the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame. 
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h. D/NGA’s decision is final and not subject to review.

i. Following D/NGA's decision, OCC will make an Agency-wide announcement of the 

selection(s). 

6. Notification.

a. All selectees for induction into the Geospatial Intelligence Hall of Fame will be 

notified by a signed letter sent from D/NGA’s office, informing them of their selection, 

and inviting them and their family to attend the induction ceremony. 

b. In the event that the selectee is deceased, the notification letter will be sent to 

their next of kin.

c. For those who are not selected, nominators will be notified by OCC and the 

nomination package will be considered one more year. 

7. Ceremony

a. The D/NGA will host an annual induction ceremony to pay tribute to the 

individuals and their prestigious accomplishments to the GEOINT community.

b. The ceremony is normally held in September in conjunction with NGA’s Former 

Leaders Day and the NGAA Fall Luncheon. 

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GLOSSARY

National GeospatialIntelligence Alumni 

Association (NGAA)

A group of employees and retirees who have been associated 

with NGA and its predecessor organizations. (Definition 

created by NGA for NGA purposes only)

NGA Heritage 

Organizations (also 

referred to as 

predecessor 

organizations)

Organizations that preceded the formation of NGA to include 

the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center, Army Map 

Service, Central Imagery Office, Defense Mapping Agency, 

Defense Dissemination Program Office, National Imagery and 

Mapping Agency, and the National Photographic Interpretation 

Center. (Definition created by NGA for NGA purposes only)