March  19,  1959 
NUMBER     S-5100.19 
Department  of  Defense  Directive 
SUBJECT   Implementation    of   National   Security    Council 
Intelligence    Directive    No.     7 
Ref:     (a)     National  Security  Council  Intelligence  Directive  No,   7, 
,:Critical  Intelligence  Communications M, 
(b)     JCS  "Plan  for  Timely  Transmission  of  Critical  In- 
telligence Combined  with  Improved  Communications 
Support  of  Communications  Intelligence ",  (Short  Title: 
CRITICOMM),     as  approved  and  modified  by  Deputy 
Secretary  of  Defense  Memorandum  dated  August  22, 
1958. 
2,     AUTHORITY  AND  PURPOSE 
Reference  (a)  designates  the  Secretary  of  Defense  as  the 
Executive  Agent  of  the  Government  to  provide  for  the  establish- 
ment, operation,  and  perfection  of  communications  means  neces- 
sary to  provide  the  most'  timely  transmission  of  critical  intelli- 
gence to  higher  authorities.    Reference  (a)  further  directs  that  the 
Secretary  of  Defense  shall  effect  coordination  with  other  Govern- 
ment agencies  in  order  that  their  communications  facilities  may 
be  utilized  to  the  extent  deemed  practicable.    This  directive  is 
issued  for  the  purpose  of  implementing  these  provisions  of  refer- 
ence (a)  within  the  Department  of  Defense, 
•  *  * 
H.    IMPLEMENTATION 
A,     A  Critical  Intelligence  Communications  System  (short 
title:    CRITICOMM)  is  hereby  established  by  the  Secretary  of 
De£en§e  acting  as  Executive  Agent  of  the  Government.    The 
CRITICOMM  system  will  consist  of  those  facilities  currently 
allocated  for  COMINT  communications  augmented  and  modified 
in  accordance  with  reference  (b)  to  handle  critical  intelligence 
communications  and  effect  necessary  improvements  in  COMINT 
communications.    An  overriding  priority  will  be  accorded  in  the 
system  to  critical  intelligence  messages,  .  In  the  implementation 
i  *\  i:\irra  >  ji:«»m  \n«»\i  \  i «« 
li? i\v/(T; i:\imv;  i.\       ■ 
I  Mil  i  |  hi:  :&t\  Mi
of  reference  (b),    changes  in  operational  detail  necessary  to  meet 
changed  conditions  and  variations  in  requirements  may  be  made  in 
accordance  with  the  functions  and  responsibilities  specified  in  para- 
graph HI.  B. ,   below. 
B.  As  specified  in  reference  (a),   the  system  will  also  utilize, 
as  practicable,    certain  communications  facilities  to  be  furnished  by 
other  agencies  of  the  Government, 
C.  Substantial  completion  of  the  CRITICOMM  system  is  desired 
by  the  end  of  1961. 
III.     FUNCTIONS  AND  RESPONSIBILITIES 
*■ 
A.  General 
The  Secretary  of  Defense  is  responsible  for  providing  for 
the  establishment,   operation  and  perfection  of  the  Critical  Intelligence 
Communications  System  and  for  effecting  coordination  with  other 
Government  agencies  concerning  utilization  of  their  communications 
facilities  to  the  extent  practicable. 
B.  Specific 
1.      The  Assist^  tn  th*  Secretary  of  Defense  (Special 
Qjinririnnn},    in  collaboration  with  other  elements  of 
the  Office  of  the  Secretary  of  Defense  as  appropriate, 
will: 
a.  Advise  and  assist  the  Secretary  of  Defense  in  the 
evaluation  and  meeting  of  requirements  for  the 
transmission  of  critical  intelligence, 
b.  Issue  instructions  and  forward  information  to  appro* 
priate  components  of  the  Department  of  Defense  as 
necessary  to  the  implementation  of  this  directive, 
c.  Maintain  continuing  review  of  the  establishment  and 
operation  of  the  CRITICOMM  system  to  assure 
effective  execution  of  the  responsibilities  of  the 
Secretary  of  Defense  under  reference  (ah 
d.  Advise  and  make  recommendations  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  Defense  concerning  any  determination 
"  -'    •  necessary  with  respect  to  implementation  of  the 
-2-
Mar  19.   59 
S-5100.19 
s  *~     ~  ~~ 
CRITICOMM  system  which  significantly  affect  or 
change: 
(1)  the  cost  of  the  system. 
(2)  its  conformance  to  pertinent  Department  of 
Defense  policies  and  directives. 
(3)  the  capability  of  the  system  to  meet  the  re- 
quirements placed  upon  the  Secretary  of 
Defense  under  reference  (a). 
(4)  the  time  schedule  for  completion  of  the  system. 
2.  The  Director  of  Defense  Research  and  Engineering  will 
ensure  technical  compatibility  within  the  CRITICOMM 
system  And  between  this  system  and  other  communica- 
tions systems  operated  or  planned  within  the  Department 
of  Defense. 
3.  The  Assistant  Secretary  of  Defense  (Supply  and  Logistics), 
in  accordance  with  his  assigned  responsibilities  for  tele- 
communications,  will: 
a.  Review  and  approve  the  programs  of  the  military 
departments  for  provision,  augmentation  and  im- 
provement of  communications  facilities  for  the 
CRITICOMM  6ystem. 
b.  Effect  necessary  policy  agreements  with  other 
Government  agencies  concerning  use  of  their  com- 
munications facilities  in  the  CRITICOMM  system. 
4.  The  Joint  Chiefs  of-  Staff,  in  accordance  with  their 
assigned  responsibilities  and  established  relationships, 
will: 
a*  Supervise  and  coordinate  the  provision,  augmenta- 
tion and  improvement  of  communications  facilities 
authorized  for  the  CRITICOMM  system. 
i 
b.  Keep  the  Secretary  of  Defense  advised  and  informed 
on  CRITICOMM  matters  within  their  area  of  respon- 
sibility. 
* 
c.  Consult  with  the  military  departments  and  the  National 
Security  Agency  jn  the  development  of  the  system* 
.  wm 
-3-
5.  The  Director,   National  Security  Agency,   will: 
a.      Control  the  traffic  and  cryptographic  operations  of 
the  CRITICOMM  system. 
* 
b«      Establish,  after  coordination  with  the  organization 
of  the  Joint  Chiefs  of  Staff  and  other  appropriate 
agencies,  the  operational  procedures  for  handling 
COMINT  and  critical  intelligence  traffic  within  the 
CRITICOMM  system. 
c.      Keep  the  Secretary  of  Defense  advised  and  informed 
on  CRITICOMM  matters  within  his  area  of  respon- 
sibility. 
6.  The  Secretaries  of  the  military  departments  will: 
Provide,  within  normal  budgeting,  funding,  and  per- 
sonnel allocation  procedures,  for  the  establishment, 
operation  and  maintenance  of  those  communications 
facilities  in  the  system  for  which  they  are  responsible 
under  reference  (b),  including  tributary  and  trunk 
channels,  automatic  switching  centers,   and  relay 
facilities. 
IV,     EFFECTIVE  DATE 
This  Directive  is  effective  immediately. 
Secretary  .of  Defense 
o 
-4-