AGREEMENT MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE PROGRAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP33-02415A000400050046-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 1, 2003
• Sequence Number: 46
• Publication Date: March 20, 1962
• Content Type: CONT

.Approved For Reley&e 2003/09/03: CIA-RDP33-02415A00Q 40050046-1
20 March 1962
AGREEMENT
Management of the National Reconnaissance Program
This paper outlines the agreement between the DeT3artrynent of Defense and
the Central Intelligence A e-acy for establishing a National Reconnaissance
Program (NRP), azacl for dealing both with the management and. operation of
. .
41.5.,. .s - -. _, ...
.. ---
of
covert basis.
a
1. The NRP will consist of all satellite and overflight reconnaissance
projects whether overt or covert. It will include all such efforts da photo-
graphic projects for intelligence, geodesy and i lapping purposes, and electronic
signal collection projects for electronic signal intelligence and communications
intelligence resulting therefrom.
2. There will be established on a covert basis a National ReconnaiE ca_nce
Office (NRO) to manage this program. This office shall he Under the. direction
of a Director and. 1#eout Director; one bein-- .~...._.~, ` rtm
a noointeci by the D ~.~.eoa e~sarf;a.~s~ent i: of
Defense and the other byytshe Central InteE-17- ence Agency. The Deo: rtment of
Defense reor?esenta.tive shall be the Under.hecretary of the Air Force, aria tlxe
eputy Director G Research) (.DD/A) 6hail act ?or tiae Gentry 1 Intelli~
The NRC7 will include a sm all_sta vial rat?aff whose oea sonnet, will he drawn from
the Deoartraent of Defense and theCentral hitel7i-once jll oenSy and assiEY e~? on
c'a full-time basis to aw,3rooriatf. positions within the office.
3. The NRO will have :reen:)onsibili. for the planners develoorrieiat.
and monitori -, of all elements of the National Reconnaissance Troy- am.
JithI
hi
n_t
sro xra.m xarime resnonsibilit-y and authori for all asp4cts
of each individual nroject will be soeciiically assigned to either the Dena.rt-
z nt of l:esfense or the Central lntelli?ence Agent b the Secretary of
D
f
?
e
ense ea3ci t1ie I
Irector of Central intelligence acting oint? zr
menclation of the Director and De-.3utj Director, NR o. All advance nialziaia
and new oroiects will be coordinated with tooth the Director and Density
Director of the NRC).
NRO and US
review(s) co
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25X1 A 8. A uniform security control system,
for the total NRO program. CIA will define security policy and responsibili-
ties. Products from the various programs will be available to all users
designated by the United States Intelligence Board.
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4. Decisions of the National Reconnaissance Office will be
implemented and its management of the National Reconnaissance Program
made effective: within the Department of Defense, by the exercise of the
authority delegated to the Under Secretary of the Air Force; within the
Central Intelligence Agency, by the Deputy Director (Research) in the
performance of his presently assigned duties. The Under Secretary of
the Air Force will be designated Special Assistant for Reconnaissance to
the Secretary of Defense and delegated full authority in this area.
5. Within the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air
Fprce he the operational agency for management and. conduct of them per. r '~
'- "' NRi` ', 'and will conduct this program through use of streamlined special
management procedures involving direct control from the office of the
Under Secretary of the Air Force to Reconnaissance System Project
Directors in the field, without intervening reviews or approvals. Over-
riding_securi cnnsideratioxns ma r dictate that the mana-,;em`nt and conduct
of individual projects or elements thereof be assigned to the Central Intelli-
gency Agency as the operational agency.
2, 4~h
6. Within the Central Intel-'i+ ence Agency the Deputy Director
(Research) will be the--cr:ao ataonal clement rest onsible for management and
conduct of th+s~ ill '. The DD/R will con-luct this nro raz thrc~~a h t_heuse
thy: A gen y
of ecaal A enc rocedures and will utal:ze whatever elegy jersts cf,
are required for its successful_Proaecuticn.
7. A. Technical Advisory Group for the NRO will be established.
8. A uniform security control system will be established for the
total program by the NRO. The Central Intelligence Agency shall provied.e
rr, the in or iraouts to all securit aspects of those uro rar, s unrer the
NationalRe:coau.issance Office. Products from the various programs will
be availableryto all userfs designated by the United States Intelligence Board.
9. The NRO will be directly responsive to, and only to, the photo-
graphic and electronic signal collection requirements and priorities
established by the United States Intelligence Board.
10. The NRO will develop suitable cover plans and public information
plans, in conjunction with the A&sietant: Secretary of Defense, Public Affairs,
to reduce potential political vulnerability of these programs. In regard to
satellite systems, it will be necessary to apply the revised public inforr .-
tion. policy to other non-sensitive satellite projects in order to insure rn ~i-
murn protection.
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11. The Director and V Director of the NRO will establish
detailed working procedures to insure that the particular talents, experience
and capabilities within the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence
Agency are fully and most effectively utilized in this program..
12.. Management control of the field operations of various elements
of the program will be exercised directly, in the case of the Department of
Defense, from the Under Secretary of the Air Force to the designated
project officers for each prograin and, in the case of the Central Intelligence
Agency, from the Deputy Director (Research) to the appropriate elements
of the Central Intelligence Agency. Major prograin elements and operations
of the NRO will be reviewed on a regular basis and as special circumstances
require by the Special Group under NSC 5412.
.? w.? ....w JOHN ,..,...._ .. ...` RrO.O. TELL L. GILrPAT C
Director of Central, Intelligence Deputy Secretary of Defense
Attachment: ,
Organization Chart
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PROPOSEZ? ORGANIZATION
NRO
Director
Technical
Advisory
Deputy Director
Chief of Staff
Support Staff (2)
Security
Logistics
Fiscal
Personnel
Technical Staff (4)
Approve=j & Future
Prcograxr,q
Manned by speciaiista
in technical areas
involving recc~au~ai~s ante
Satellites
A/C
='hotoeenaera
fSigint
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