Download - National reconnaissance office
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America’s Nightmare
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U.S. NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICEV i g i l a n c e Fr o m A b o v e
Perspective on the NRO’s Role & Evolution within the Intelligence Community
Presented toU.S. National Security Policy & Strategy Class
27 February 2010University of New Haven, West Haven, CT
By Elias R. Lopez
Student, National Security & Public Safety
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AGENDA
NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE
Overview
Historical Background
NRO Early Years
Mission & Functions
NRO Today
Leadership & Staffing
Bureaucratic Challenges
Future Focus Areas
Clash of the Superpowers
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Nikita Khrushchev
Historical Overview
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DOOMSDAY CLOCKMilitary Superiority
Information Superiority
Technological Rivalry
Aerial Reconnaissance
Lockheed U2 Aerial Reconnaissance Aircraft
Pilot: Francis Gary Powers
Technical Intelligence-Collections Systems
1953 – 1961
1957: USAF Satellite Program Begins
Initiatives Begin
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Photo Reconnaissance Satellite Programs
SAMOS (WS-117L)
CORONA
GRAB
1960 Paris Summit
16 May 1960
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U-2 Shot downParis Summit -16 Days1 May 1960
U-2 Program CancelledAmerica blind to Soviet Threat
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Khrushchev Demands U.S. Apology
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Space Programs Accelerate
♦ Ad Astra ♦America takes Intelligence “to the Stars”
“we must find ways to increase the number of hard facts upon which our intelligence estimates are based, to provide better strategic warning, to minimize surprise in the kind of attack, and to reduce the danger of gross overestimation or gross underestimation of the threat. To this end, we recommend adoption of a vigorous program for the extensive use, in many intelligence procedures of the most advanced knowledge in science and technology – “Blue Ribbon” Panel of Experts - Report to President Eisenhower - 1955
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August 25, 1960
Creation & Concealment
Joseph V. CharykUSAF
Undersecretary
Civilian Satellite Reconnaissance Office
Reports Directly to DoD
Robert S. McNamaraSecretary of Defense
1961National Reconnaissance Program
Joseph V. CharykDirector, NRO
Richard M. Bissell, CIADeputy Director, NRO
Mission: Management of all overt and covert satellite and overflight reconnaissance projects
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Profound Secrecy
Denying enemy access to key information
Preserve classified technical capabilities amid uncertain and competing organizational roles in Recon Ops Protect sources and methods
Neutralize Collateral Competition Evade detection from less-
developed nations sensitive to U.S. espionage
Avoid Public debate over sufficiency of capabilities to counter Soviet threat
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Declassification
Declassified September 1992
Intelligence Community Agency
Hybrid Organization3,000 Personnel from IC + DoD
CORONA / ARGON / LANYARD – Imagery SatellitesDeclassified 1995
GRAB – Signals Intelligence Satellite Declassified 1998
POPPY – Radar Pulse Interceptor & Oceanic SurveillanceDeclassified 2005
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VISION
MISSION
VIGILANCE FROM ABOVE
Innovative Overhead Intelligence Systems for National Security
Be a foundation for global situational awareness; and Provide intelligence on timeliness that are responsive to user needs
GOALS
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Global Situational Awareness
Real-Time Engagement Support
Signals Intelligence and Near Real-Time Imagery
Agile Systems
Access to Denied Areas
Military, Intelligence Community & Policymaker Clients
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NRO Leadership
17th Director of the NROApp. 12 June 2009
GENERAL BRUCE CARLSON (RET)
Commander, Air Force Material CommandApp. 1 December 2005
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William M. GatesU.S. Secretary of Defense
Dennis C. BlairU.S. Director of National Intelligence
Establishes Collection Requirements &
Priorities for Satellite-Gathered Intelligence
Management & Operational
Responsibility
Management
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1. Agency-specific interests drive the NRO bureaucracy2. NRO component agencies are in competition for struggle
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1. THE NRO IS IN COMPETITION WITH OTHER AGENCIES OVER VARIOUS STAKES2. PROPOSALS FOR CHANGE ARE POLITICALLY MOTIVATES AND ARE A SOURCE OF POLITICAL PRESSURE Targeted for size reduction Indirect budget pressures Inadequate support for military operations Reorganization and program integration NRO Highly sensitive to external policy decisions Acquisition subordinated to undersecretary for Space
Acquisition & Technology Imagery exploitation & dissemination subordinated to
NGA
Current Issues
ODNI
CIAFBIDEA
IA
USCGINR StateDI EnergyOIA Treasury
Civilian Agencies
Marine Corps
Navy
Air Force
Army
OSC USD(I)
NSA NGA NRO
DIA
Department of
Defense
Intelligence Community
DOJ
DHS
NRO EST BUDGET: 7 BILLION
Summary
Historical Background
NRO Early Years
Mission & Functions
NRO Today
Leadership & Staffing
Bureaucratic Challenges
Future Focus Areas
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NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE
VIGILANCE FROM ABOVE
QUESTIONS?
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Sources CORONA and the Intelligence Community
URL:https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/kent-csi/pdf/v39i5a08p.pdf
The Creation and Evolution of the NROURL: http://web.mit.edu/ssp/seminars/wed_archives_00fall/richelson.htm
NRO Fact Sheet: (Word Document). pp. 1. URL: http://www.nro.gov/nro_factsheet.doc. Retrieved 2007-01-15. ^ "Welcome to the NRO". http://www.nro.gov/index.html. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
The Evolution of the National Reconnaissance Office: Out from the Deep Black Space and into Defense Bureaucracy.