NEW SENIOR SEMINAR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00308A000100010018-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 10, 2000
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: December 17, 1970
• Content Type: MFR

Appro For Release 2002/05/01 C12 1 DP80-00308j&00100010018-8
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: New Senior Seminar
DD/S 70-4891
1'. Colonel White called XI :r. Cunningham and me to talk about the pro-
posed new Agency Senior Seminar, He had discussed the subject with the
Director following the last Deputies' meeting discussion. The Director was
not completely sold on the validity of the course and limited his approval to
a single running, upon completion of which a very hard review and evaluation
will be accomplished. The Director was also not completely happy with the
three-month duration, believing that this involved a very heavy drain on senior
Agency officials' time. He "worried" the question of whether the problem of
training is becoming a way of life and the time taken from senior officials as
they are called upon to speak to such a course. Colonel White stressed the
impok Dance of putting together a fix s>t class program for the first running of
the new Senior Seminar.
2. Colonel White suggested to Mr. Cunningham that the Director's
remarks indicated the desirability of conducting an overall review to insure
that we are not presenting repetitively various courses merely because they
have been on the schedule traditiox.i.ly.
3. Mr. Cunningham stated that he was not surprised at the Director's
action since it fit with some of the sentiments he expressed to the Midcareer
students last Friday. At that time this remarks included a reference to a
statement of his own father that "education is the most selfish of occupations".
jaw w, Coffey -
AI)D/S:JV;C/es
R.etyped:ms (17 Dec 70)
Distribution:
Orig - DD/S Subject
1 - Director of Training
1 - DD/S Chrono
Assistarit Deputy Director
for Support
Approved For Release"20D2/05/01.:;QIAi-RD Q8AQb0J00010018-8
 Approved For-Release 2002/05/01 : CIA-RDP80-00308 000100010018-8
CLANDESTINE SERVICE SUPPORT OFFICERS' MEETING
DDS Conic rence Room
9 December 1970
E-X-T-?R-A-C-T
"4, c. Personnel Changes I has been named Director of the
new Senior Seminar. The seminar will be designed for officers grade GS-15
and higher and will run for three months for about twenty students. The first
seminar is planned for the fall of 1971. In proposing this course, Mr. Hugh
Cunningham pointed out that much attention has been given to improving and
broadening Agency training for junior and mid -career officers and that these
objectives deserve at least equal emphasis at the senior officer level. The
plan will be to provide senior officers with the time and resources to review
the status of the intelligence profession; to comprehend developing trends
and necessities of which they may be only partially aware; to hear and discuss
the most profound judgments available concerning foreign and domestic affairs,
the relationship between them, and. the potential impact of events upon intelli-
gence as a major function of government. Most of all, Mr. Cunningham said,
we should provide those officers who are in line of succession to senior mana-
gerial positions with an opportunity to address themselves in the most sophis-
ticated fashion to the organizational and management problems which they will
be inheriting. "
E-X-T-R-A-C-T
Approved For Release 2002/05/01 : CIA-RDP80-00308A000100010018-8
rr-nr.,
 Approve-or Release 2002/05/01 : CIA-RDP80-08A000100010018-8
DD/S 70-4756
4 December 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD .
SUBJECT: Meeting with Executive D:irector-Comptroller on 2 December 1970
"3. The proposal for a senior seminar was discussed at some length.
Mr. Karamessines expressed concern with taking as many senior people
away from their jobs for as long a period as proposed. He urged that we
begin with a less ambitious approach in terms of numbers, length, and
frequency. Mr. Duckett urged that we review i:he mid-career age and grade
criteria as it appeared that at least for his Directorate the two courses might
overlap. Dr. Smith said that he was vaguely negative regarding the proposal,
saying that he expected his senior officers to be already fairly knowledgeable
of the subject matter proposed to be covered in the course. Mr. Bannerman
supported the proposal but suggested that perhaps the grade level be ex-
panded to include 14's. Mr. Coffey believed that a modest approach was in
order; the others present supported the general proposition. Mr. Cunningham
responded to the various comments. Colonel White received no objection to
a decision to commit ourselves to a. first running next fall with the grades
limited to GS -15 and GS -16 . He will review with the Director and, subject
to his approval, Mr. Cunningham will go ahead with the planning for the
course."
/s/ Robert S. Wattles
Approved For Release 2002/05/01 CIA,RDP80--00308A000' 00010018-8