STAP MEMBERSHIP

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84M00395R000600050008-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 27, 2007
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: October 26, 1982
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2007/04/27: CIA-RDP84M00395R00060005
CONFIDENTIAL
STAP-0029/82
26 October 1982
MEMORANDUM FOR:
VIA:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Director, Intelligence Community Staff
Director, Office of Community Coordination
Executive Secretary
DCI Science and Technology Advisory Panel
STAP Membership (U)
(ST'!P)
COGGED.
2 7 OCT 70
1. In response to your query to the following identifies
the existing process by which individuals achieve membership on the DCI
Science and Technology Advisory Panel. (U)
2. The Director of Central Intelligence is the sole authority for
appointing members to the STAP. The term of membership is nominally and
informally set at three years; however, existing records and anecdotal
information indicate there is no formal mechanism for review' mber's
tenure at the end of this period. In fact, several members
have been members since the STAP was formed in 1976. Vacancies
usually occur as a result of a member's voluntary resignation due to his
having insufficient time to devote to panel activities. (C)
3. Candidates for STAP membership can be identified or submitted to the
Chairman by anyone. Ideally, the DCI should play an active role in
identifying the expertise and technologies to be represented on his Advisory
Panel. In actual practice, however, most of the Directors have adopted a
passive or, at best, reactive posture with respect to filling membership
vacancies on the Panel. It is usually the Chairman or an active current
member who initially identifies an individual as a potential candidate to fill
an existing or projected vacancy. The individual's name is submitted to the
general membership and "executive session" discussions occur regarding the
nominee's area of expertise, employment affiliation, potential conflicts of
interest, scientific credentials, and potential contribution to the STAP. If
the general membership endorses the individual, the STAP Executive Secretary
coordinates the proposed membership with the CIA's Office of Security l
With interim approval by these offices, the STAP
Chairman submits a memo to the DCI requesting authorization to approach the
WARNING NOTICE
INTELLIGENCE SOURCES
OR METHODS INVOLVED
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individual. With such DCI authorization, and a favorable response from the
individual, appropriate paperwork (personal history statement, conflict of
interest statement, etc.) and security background investigation procedures are
initiated. When all is satisfactorily completed, the candidate is considered
to be a potential member. A formal invitation to join the Panel may not be
sent immediately. The individual may be placed in a "pool" of two or three
approved and qualified potential members until a vacancy occurs or a
continuing need for a person's unique talent is identified. At that time, the
individual will receive a written invitation from the DCI to become a
member. If the person's circumstances have changed in the interim so that he
is no longer able to accept membership (new constraints on his time due to a
change in position or employment, health reasons, etc.) the DCI may then
invite another eligible individual from the candidate "pool":. -(U)
4. When an individual accepts an invitation to become a STAP member,
appropriate documents are signed and exchanged specifing the terms, fees, and
conditions of "employment" as a part-time, overt consultant to the DCI. The
new member is also invited to undergo a polygraph examination ~ut may re se
without predjudice to his membership on the panel. Currentl
lhave been olygraphed. E-,: !~ff
have declined. The policy decision to
grant final clearances and access to STAP members without the polygraph
was reaffirmed by John McMahon a year or so ago when he was Executive
Director. His reasoning, inter alia, was that the STAP members already had or
were likely to receive such access by virtue of their affiliation on other
Intelligence or Defense-associated panels such as the NSA Advisory Board,
Defense Science Board, etc. Additionally, other consultants and contractors
with whom the Agency deals on an ad hoc basis usually do not have to be
polygraphed. (C)
5. The STAP currently has one vacancy in its total allotment of 10
membership positions. The STAP tries to maintain a broad range of
disciplines, backgrounds, and expertise on the Panel. The Panel prides itself
on its independance from "bureaucratic or political bias" and in its ability
to serve as a link between government and the academic/industrial
communities. As such, the STAP generally will not consider an individual for
membership who has a current or recent (within five years) affiliation with a
government agency. However, STAP membership is not lost if an individual
accepts a government position while he is serving on the Panel.
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6. I am prepared to provide additional information on STAP procedures or
discuss the points in this memo, if you so desire.
CDCD
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SUBJECT: STAP Membership
1 - D/ICS
- D/OCC
3 - STAP Chairman
4 - STAP Subject
- STAP Chrono
- ICS Registry
DCI/ICS/OCC/STAP
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Science an Techno ogy dvisory Pane
STAP RESUME
The Science and Technology Advisory Panel (STAP) was formed by the
Director of Central Intelligence in 1976. It serves the DCI as a source of
independent advice and expertise on a variety of scientific, technical, and
management issues. The membership includes renowned senior scientists,
executives, and other leaders from industry, academe, and government.
The STAP meets quarterly in plenary session where, inter alia, formal
briefings are presented, reports approved, and direct consultati.,n with the
DCI is effected. At other times small working groups or sub-panels are formed
to respond to DCI tasking, address specific issues, and provide STAP
participation in technical studies or other ongoing projects. _--
The STAP also responds to requests for assistance from any Deputy
Director or senior line manager who believes a STAP member's expertise may
contribute to resolving a difficult technical intelligence problem. STAP
assistance may be in the form of an informal discussion, a written memorandum,
or a formal study or report signed by the Chairman and forwarded to the DCI.'
Principal functions of the STAP include:
- To insure the DCI and senior Intelligence Community managers are
forewarned of significant advances in state-of-the-art technology and
in new applications of existing technology.
To identify and highlight the implications of current and future S&T
developments for intelligence activity.
To provide linkages and interactions between the intelligence
community and the scientific and technical communities in industry,
academe, and government, as appropriate.
To provide a quality control mechanism; an outside source for
objective evaluation of current and planned S&T-related intelligence
activity.
To review evidence on existing S&T intelligence "enigmas" and to
introduce new thinking and suggest avenues for solving these
unknowns.
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