National reconnaissance office

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America’s Nightmare

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

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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Unclassified

Unclassified YYYYMMDD OCIO/Group/Your Name

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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Unclassified


Photo Reconnaissance Satellite Programs

SAMOS (WS-117L)

CORONA

GRAB

1960 Paris Summit

16 May 1960

V

U-2 Shot downParis Summit -16 Days1 May 1960

U-2 Program CancelledAmerica blind to Soviet Threat

V

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

V

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

V

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

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

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.

http://www.nro.gov/nro_factsheet.doc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Reconnaissance_Office

http://www.nro.gov/index.html

http://www.nro.gov/index.html.%20Retrieved%202007-01-15

National reconnaissance office

Technology

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