LETTER TO MR. JOHN D. ROTH, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FROM RICHARD HELMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00313R000300090011-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 5, 2001
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: October 29, 1970
• Content Type: LETTER

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20503
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
Mr. John D. Roth, Executive Secretary
Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board
Room 3416
U. S. Civil Service Commission
Washington, D. C. 20415
This is in response to Mr. John A. Volpe's letter of 31 August
in which he invited me to submit nominations for the President's
Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service.
I welcome this opportunity to nominate Mr. Arthur C. Lundahl,
Director of the National Photographic Interpretation Center in the
Central Intelligence Agency. I believe that Mr. Lundahl's achieve-
ments in the development of photographic interpretation techniques
for intelligence have been an outstanding contribution to the defense
of the United States and that of the Free World. His unusual leadership
and competence in this highly technical field and his achievements in
support of the National Defense efforts make him a fitting representa-
tive of the many career officers who are serving in critical and vital
positions in the Federal service.
Sincerely,
Richard Helms
Director
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BIOGRAPHIC DATA
Title and Grade :
Director, National Photographic Interpretation
Center, Central Intelligence Agency, GS-18
Birth
1 April 1915, Chicago, Illinois
Education
1934-39:
University of Chicago, B. S. , Geology
1939-42:
University of Chicago, M.S., Geology
1942 :
University of Chicago, Ph. D. (Prelims)
1948 :
Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule,
Zurich, Switzerland, Photogrammetry
Employment
1941-42:
University of Chicago, Instructor in
Photogrammetry
1942-46:
U. S. Navy, Commissioned Officer on
active duty, Photographic Intelligence
Specialist
1946-53:
U. S. Navy Photographic Interpretation
Center: Chief, Photogrammetry
Division and Assistant Chief Engineer
Central Intelligence Agency: Director,
National Photographic Interpretation
Center since 1961
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CITATION
ARTHUR C. LUNDAHL
A distinguished pioneer in photographic interpretation
for more than a quarter of a century, he has been a dynamic
force for improving intelligence vital to the security of the
United States by adding a new dimension to the interpretation
of the evidence.
His distinguished career with the
Central Intelligence Agency has been marked by exceptional
ability, imagination, drive and dedication. His professional
competence, personality and warmth have made him an
inspiring leader in the Intelligence Community and a key
advisor to many high Government officials.
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Summary of Achievements
1. Mr. Photo Interpreter. To those who are privy to the inner
workings of the U. S. Intelligence Community, Mr. Lundahl's name
is synonymous with photo interpretation. When CIA decided to enter
the field, Mr. Lundahl was selected to develop and direct its photo
STATINTL interpretation program He was well prepared for this
assignment by teaching p otogrammetry at the University of Chicago
and eleven years of photo interpretation experience with the Navy as
an officer in World War II and as a top civilian afterward.
Upon taking on his assignment in CIA, he planned and with
contagious enthusiasm implemented programs to train a large corps
of experts and to develop new equipment and techniques for photo
interpretation. Under his leadership, this activity grew into what is
now the National Photographic Interpretation Center -- an interagency
organization which has provided information vital to the security of
the United States for more than a decade.
2. Scientist and Innovator. Mr. Lundahl has played a leading
role in the development of photo interpretation from an art using
crude magnifying and measuring devices to a science using highly
sophisticated viewing, enhancing and mensuration instruments
harnessed to computers to draw out the maximum and most accurate
information from photography. Because much of Mr. Lundahl's work
is classified, his contributions to the advancement of the science of
photogrammetry and photo interpretation have been denied the public
recognition they deserve.
Although the growth in importance of photography to national
security resulted from the efforts of many people both in industry and
Government, Arthur Lundahl through his leadership, foresightedness
and dedication is the one name that can represent their achievements
in interpretation technology and organizational management.
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Additional Details
1. The Cuban missile crisis in 1962 is an excellent example of
the importance of photo interpretation in general and of Mr. Lundahl
and his organization in particular. Under his direction, photo inter-
preters discovered the missile threat, and he personally explained the
evidence to the most senior officials of the U. S. and Allied Govern-
ments. The accurate and rapid analysis of photography was of vital
importance to the Government then and it continues to be so today.
2. In 1960 an intensive study of the Government's intelligence
effort resulted in the conversion of Mr. Lundahl's organization to the
National Photographic Interpretation Center to serve all elements of
the Government. The success of the Center is due in large measure
to Mr. Lundahl's ability to gain the cooperation of all branches of the
Government involved in photo interpretation for intelligence.
3. Mr. Lundahl holds two U. S. patents: one on Rotating Plates
for Parallax Measurements and one for the ANZE Camera. He has
written many technical papers and articles, including Photographic
Intelligence (the Naval Reserve Course Syllabus), Naval Photographic
Interpretation, Applied Photography - Superservant of Man (a lecture
given at the Cosmos Club, of which he is a member), and Photogeography
and Photogeology: A Review and Prospectus, as well as numerous
classified papers.
Benefits
1. Mr. Lundahl has consistently encouraged cooperative ventures
in research and procurement with other agencies, sharing achievements
of his program with others at considerable savings to the Government.
2. The National Photographic Interpretation Center under Mr.
Lundahl's leadership has saved the Government untold resources by
furnishing a truly integrated service to the Intelligence Community.
3. The interpretation of photography yields unbiased, hard evidence
on developments in areas of the world where a decade ago little more
than speculation was available. No price tag can be placed on the firm
basis this provides for the formulation of U. S. foreign and military
policy.
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Awards
In 1962 Mr. Lundahl received the following: Letter of
Commendation from the President and one of fourteen Presidential
Silver Cuban Crisis Calendars. In 1963 he received the following
honors: National Civil Service League Career Service Award,
Presidential Unit Citation and Certificate of Commendation for
Meritorious Service with the Central Intelligence Agency, Fifth
Naval District Reserve Intelligence Annual Award for Outstanding
Contribution to National Defense, the American Society of Photo-
grammetry's FMA Photo Interpretation Award, and the American
Society of Photogrammetry's Honorary Membership Award which
is the highest honor offered by the Society,
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