Transfer of the Signal Analysis and Waveform Branch from ORD to OEL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88B00553R000100110001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 23, 1997
• Sequence Number: 1
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 1999/09/27 : CIA-RDP88B00553R000100110001-6
t ``NOflANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Science and Technology
SUBJECT: Transfer of the Signal Analysis and Wave-
form branch from ORD to OEL
1. During the discussions attending the transfer of
the SAW Branch from ORD to OEL, it became apparent that
there is some misunderstanding of the purpose and extent
of the transfer which is standing in the way of a timely
completion of this action. This memorandum presents my
views on the matter.
In reviewing ORD activities, I concluded that
25X1A9a group was, for the most part, not truly engaged
in 3.&D activities; much of the effort consisted of the
processing of routine material. In my view, the estab-
lishment of a clear role for ORD demands concentration on
R&D at the exploratory level. On the other hand, the SAW
activity, and especially that in the area of hydroacoustics,
is vital to the Agency (particularly because of the growth
of the naval intelligence area). Since OEL has been given
the responsibility for hydroacoustic collection and already
possesses an ELINT processing function, it is the logical
place: to carry out these SAW activities. With this in mind,
ORD proposed the transfer to OEL of four* members of _s 25X1A9a
group. his has been agreed to at all levels and is now an
accomplished fact. In addition to the transfer of people,
PY 72 SAW contracts with an approximate unexpended value of
25X1A1a
have been or are in the process of being assigned to OBL.
In addition, ORD is prepared to transfer some other monies
to cover the Signal Analysis Lab Support, equipment, supplies
and the remaining portion of the FY 73 salaries and travel
budget for the transferred personnel. It does not appear
that the transfer of these assets constitutes a major issue.,
*Also transferred are the ORD Coop personnel amounting to
one additional man year.
Approved For Release 1999/09/27 : CIA
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Approved For ,le ease 1999/09/27 : CIA-RDP88BQ&553R000100110001-6
SUBJECT3 Transfer of the Signal Analysis and Waveform
Branch from ORD to OEL
3. The question at issue is - Should the continuing
SAW costs come from the ORD FY 74 and future budgets? In
my view, this would not be proper. It violates the new
philosophy under which the yearly budget for ORD is estab-
lished. We are charged with performing exploratory R&D in
all areas of interest to the Agency and on this basis are
provided with an appropriate percentage of the Agency's R&D
budget. This budget level is not determined by adding up
specific project costs and therefore should not be reduced
by the transfer of a project or projects to another office.
Indeed, the transfer of activities which have gone beyond
the R&D stage should be a major goal in future ORD planning.
Furthermore, in effecting this particular transfer to OEL,
ORD is not giving up all work in these substantive areas
but rather intends to do R&D in close support of the newly
enhanced OEL ASW function and in the signal analysis area
where it can be responsive to well established Agency needs.
4. It has been further argued that, with the reduction
of people resulting from the transfer of four people to OEL,
ORD's budget should be red. In arriving at the FY 74
25X9A2 budget, however, a T/O of was considered--10 less than
in FY 73. The transfer of group will only partly 25X1A9a
accomplish this cut. If ORD cannot meet the cut in its '/O
level by transferring people, without second order reductions
across the line, there would be no course left but for ORD to
actually RIF the people originally tagged for transfer to OCS.
5. The proposal by ?RD to transfer these people to OEL
constituted an honest effort to make better use of some
important assets in meeting high priority Agency needs than
ORD's role and its manpower ceiling would allow. However
naive such an approach may be, it should not damage the Agency's
exploratory R&D activities in perpetuity.
Sayre Stevens
Director of Research and Development
Distribution:
O&1 - DD/S&T
1 - D/ORD'
1 - SPG/ORD Chrono
1 - ORD Reg.
SPG/ORD/DD/S&T: /nlm 2 -x 3458 (31 Oct 72)
Approved For-R99 DP88B00553R00A100110001-6