CONSOLIDATION OF AGENCY GRAPHICS FACILITIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85-00988R000400100003-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 20, 2003
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: June 1, 1981
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 29 041. at 0988R0004001W0%S-52995-81
NATIONAL FOREIGN ASSESSMENT CENTER
1 JUN 1981
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Administration
r'D/A Registry!
SUBJECT Consolidation of Agency Graphics Facilities
1. The issue of consolidating Agency graphics activities
has been discussed by various echelons of management as far back
as 1952. Cogent arguments can be made on both sides of this
issue. Any decision should be supportive of our basic mission--
to produce finished intelligence. I think most would agree that
the Agency's primary use of graphics is in the analysis of raw
information and its synthesis in finished intelligence. It is
not surprising, therefore, that NPIC and OGSR have the largest
graphics components in the Agency. In this context, I can only
speak to the OGSR case.
2. The Cartographic Division of OGSR* is an integral part
of our intelligence production capability. The Cartographic
Division's pioneering of computer-charted maps and graphics
provides a level of expertise in that unit which-,exceeds that of
any other component in the Agency. It was created) to support all
of our analytic elements. It is an added benefit/that it
sometimes meets non-NFAC needs.
*There areL--Jpeople managing and preparing graphics and maps
for intelligence production.
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3. The graphics designers have moved significantly beyond
conventional artist/illustrator graphics production to
substantive analysis of highly complex political, economic,
technical and strategic data and concepts for visual
interpretation. They have developed substantive areas and
functional expertise, and many of their products can stand alone
as finished intelligence. Because of this change in mission and
capability, in August of 1969 all artists and illustrators were
reclassified as Visual Information Specialists.
4. NFAC's graphics capabilities are intimately tied to our
production of finished intelligence, either through the creation
of briefing aids or graphics for publications. The designers are
NFAC careerists who have a strong sense of mission and provide
NFAC the flexibility to produce on extremely short notice
graphics of the highest quality. I cannot accept having that
capability diminished in any way.
5. The fact that the Agency's graphics facilities remain
tied to the components they are serving seems to make eminently
good sense. Most of the shops have clearly defined missions, a
specific clientele, and specialize in a particular kind of
product. If decentralization fosters professional isolation and
career stagnation in very small shops of 3 or 4 persons, perhaps
some of those should be consolidated.
6. On balance, I believe, as did my predecessors on this
issue, that centrally managed services tend to become self-
serving and to create internally generated work, often at the
expense of flexibility and responsiveness to specialized needs of
customers. I cannot afford to let that happen. NFAC must
continue to exercise leadership in graphics design through its
briefing aids and publications. Our mission is the communication
of information. Graphics are an essential element of that
equation.
7. All portions of this memorandum are classified
John McMahon
Approved For Release 2003/11/04: CIA-RDP85-00988R000400100003-5
CONFIDENTIAL
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