UPGRADING OF POSITIONS IN DIRECTORATE OF ESTIMATES, DIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01082A000700110018-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2004
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: April 11, 1974
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2004/05/05: CIA-RDP80M01082
11 April 1974
0-1ORAP1DUf FOR: The Director, Defense Intelligence Agency
SUBJECT: Upgrading of Positions in Directorate of Estimates, DIA
1. I wish to add the strongest possible endorsement to the
proposal that the three Special Assistants for Defense, national,
and International Estimates in the 'CIA Directorate for Estimates
(DIP,-DE) be upgraded to GS-16 level. These are perhaps the most
important substantive intelligence positions in Defense Intelligence.
They are filled by three of the most experienced, knowledgeable, and
professionally skilled civilian intelligence officers in the entire
community.
2. I was the Deputy Director for Estimates in DIA at the time
the positions were established and personally selected two of the
incumbents and am well acquainted with the third. The positions
were established primarily to improve the excellence and the impact
of intelligence estimates produced by DIA. They have succeeded
beyond even the most generous expectations. Their contribution to
the soundness, timeliness, and quality of all Defense, National,
and International estimates production was immediate and of the
very highest order.
3. The three Special Assistants also serve collectively as
the hard core of the Board of Estimates which reviews and coordinates
all intelligence estimates produced by the Denartment of Defense.
One or another of the three Snecial Assistants always serves as
"Chairman" of the Board. They meet with senior representatives of
other DIA Directorates, the Service Intelligence agencies, and
occasionally other USIB agencies in testing and seeking accommo-
dation of their respective views.
4. The effective performance of these functions places a high
premium on the intellectual flexibility, judgment, communication
skills, and emotional maturity of the individuals concerned. The
three DIA-DE Snecial Assistants were selected because of their unique
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possession of these qualities, as well as for their exceptional
experience and knowl edgea'oi l i ty in substantive intelligence.
Their achievements have consistently Justified that selection.
Nonetheless, their present grades (GS-15) are the same as those
of "Journeyman" estimators in DIA and do not represent the far
higher contribution they are making to the Defense Intelligence
effort. Similarly skilled intelligence officers performing similar
functions are not to be found elsewhere in the Washington community
below the grade of GS-16.
5. Upgrading these billets to GS-16 would have important ramifi-
cations, beyond recognition of the critical importance of their difficult
duties. They meet often with senior representatives of other govern-
ment agencies and departments and of foreign governments; the interests
of the Defense Department would be better served if they held ranks
more nearly commensurate with those of the officials with whom they
deal. Career opportunities in DIA have long been at a disadvantage
in terms of attainable civilian grades in comparison to other agencies--
particularly in the purely substantive oroduction area. Upgrading
the DIA-DE billets would provide a boost in morale for all production-
oriented civilians in DIA. It would give them something to shoot at
and a visible opportunity to pursue higher grades without having to
move into management or to transfer to other agencies. These are too-
frequent causes of the loss of high-caliber professional expertise in
DI A.
5. The President has called for upgrading the quality and the
grade structure of substantive intelligence personnel. This call has
a very special application to DIA, and the raising of these three
positions would go far in meeting it. The functions performed are
easily of sufficient importance to merit upgrading. The caliber,
responsibility, and performance of duty of the incumbents surpass
those of persons of equal grade in DlA and of higher grades in other
agencies. The PIA, Defense Intelligence, and the intelligence
community as a whole would benefit directly from the prompt estab-
lishment of the three DIA-DE positions at the GS-l6 level.
Daniel D. Graham
Lieutenant General, USA
Deputy to the DCI for the
Intelligence Community
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Approved For Release 2004/05/05 : CIA-RDP80MO1082A000700110018-8