PROPOSED CHANGE IN TOP SECRET CONTROL OFFICER NOMINATION PROCEDURES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP10T01930R000600030013-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 17, 2012
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: October 10, 1973
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/26: CIA-RDP1 OT01930R000600030013-7
10 OCT 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director of Security (P&M)
SUBJECT : Proposed Change in Top Secret Control
Officer Nomination Procedures
Security of Classified Documents
1. Action-Requested- It is requested that you solicit the
approval of the Director of Security for changing nomination
procedures for Agency Top Secret Control Officers to simplify
such procedures by eliminating the Clearance Division review
of such nominations and accepting such nominations upon deter-
mination that the individuals are Agency staff employees.
2. Background:
a. Reference states that Agency Area, Alternate,
and Assistant Top Secret Control Officers are nominated
by Operating Officials to the CIA Top Secret Control
Officer. Further, such nominees are not to be permitted
to act as Control Officers until their nominations have been
confirmed by the CIA Top Secret Control Officer and the
Director of Security.
b. On 1 March 1973 the Agency Top Secret Control
function was reassigned to the Director of Security.
ONFiDEN I' riL
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/26: CIA-RDP1 OT01930R000600030013-7
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/26: CIA-RDP1 OT01930R000600030013-7
c. Under existing procedures the Clearance Division
,reviews all Area, Alternate, and Assistant. Top Secret
Control Officer nominations and notifies the Worm ation
Systems Security Group that 'such nominations, are eligible
for appointment. the course of this review, the nomine&;s
security file is screened. .;E`ollowing Clearance Division
endorsement, the formation Systems ,curity coup
approves the nomination.
d. Discussions with Clearance 'vision personnel
reflect that, td the beet of their recollectio covering a
period of over i5 years, no Area, Alternate, or Assistant
Top. Secret control Officer nomination 'has base diissappro Teri
on the basis of a security file review.
Poke
a. Prior to the assumption of Top Secret Control
responsibility by the Office ,of :Security, the dual confirmation
of Top Secret Control Officer nominations s by the M Top
Secret Control Officer and the Director of 'Security had some
justification in that these Organizational entities were
separate. With the assumptions earlier this year,, of Top
Secret Control Program responsibilities by the Director
of Security such dual confirmation is redundant.
b. Based on the experience of over 15 years without
a disapproval on the basis, of security file .review, it is not
Justifiable to continue this practice as long as Area, Alternate,
and Assistant Top Secret Control Officer nominees are staff
employees holding Top Secret clearances. -
c if the Clearance Division review of Area, Alternate,*
,and Assistant Top Secret Control Officer nominations is
eliminated. not only will the Division workload be somewhat
reduced, but apparently unproductive administrative routines
can be eliminated, e..g. , the maintainance of Top Secret
Control Officer- appointment fans in security files.
C F iE. a
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/26: CIA-RDP1 OT01930R000600030013-7
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/26: CIA-RDP1 OT01930R000600030013-7
.., -CONHULNIIAL
4. Recommendation: It is recommended that you request
the Director of Security to approve changes to existing Top Secret
Control nomination procedures whereby:
a. Operating Officials will appoint, within their
spheres of responsibility, Area. Alternate, and Assistant
Top Secret Control Officers as necessary, ensuring that
only Agency staff employees are so appointed.
b. Confirmation of such nominations by the Office
of Security will no longer be required.
c. Operating Officials will be responsible for
immediately informing the Information Systems Security
Group of the appointment of such Top Secret Control
Officers and the cancellation of such appointments, so.
that it will maintain an Agency wide listing of such
appointments.
"SIGNED"
Chief. Information Systems Security Group
Distribution:
Orig & 1 - Addressee
Cd'(Y--k - ISSG File, Security Policy, TS Control, General Info.
1 - ISSG Chrono
OS/P&M/ISSG (10 October 1973)
CONFIDENTIAL
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/10/26: CIA-RDP1 OT01930R000600030013-7