DD/R REPORT OF MEETING ON NRO WITH MCNAMARA, MCCONE, GILPATRIC AND CHARYK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85B00803R000100160080-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 26, 2005
• Sequence Number: 80
• Publication Date: October 5, 1962
• Content Type: REPORT

Anaroved_F,ar Release 2005/06/09: CIA-Ii6P 19&8631 &i00160080-9
5 October 1962 25X1
DD/R Report of Meeting on NRO with McNamara, McCone, Gilpatric and Charyk
... (b) Discussion was held on the FIRE FLY and. A-12 Q drone programs. It was agreed. that
FIRE FLY shld go ahead for possible use in Cuba. At this point there was considerable
discussion on the need to have a more forceful recon program in the Cuban area. The
value of the A-l2 Q as a potential hedge against the inability to gbt permission for the
manned vehicle was discussed. It was admitted that the technical characteristics and
feasibility of this system were still uncertain and that the first phase of the program
could probably be useful in clearing up some of these uncertainties, before the very
large sums of money would be committed. It was therefore agreed to proceed with this
program with the understanding that when the data from the study phase was
available, then a further decision would be made on the final development. (Subsequent
to the meeting Dr. Charyk agreed that CIA should undertakd the development responsibilitiE
for this program in the same way as for the A-12.)
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 66-R-638 Chron-2
memo to Approved For Release 2005/06/09 : - 9lARDP85B00803Rcf010Q1600809
October 1962 25X1
DDR/OSA (Development Division)
SecDef and DCI at meeting on NRO program agreed. to proceed with initial stages of the
development of the A-12Q program. In view of technical uncertainties of the system,
the program should be carefully reviewed after Phase I, i.e., the study and feasibility
phase,is complete. It is understood that this phase will cost approx. 25X1
If this review indicates that one should not proceed with the development, then one
25X1 could szve th ]which the program would cost.
2. Subsequent to this meeting Dr. Charyk agreed that the management responsibility
for this development should be in CIA (Program B) in much the same way as the present
A-12. He agreed that the Defense Dept should assign some individual to CIA who is
knowledgeable on drones and hopefully "enthuriastic" for the A-l2 Q program. You
should, therefore, take steps to obtain a x ?t satisfactory individual working with
the NRO staff. You should, however, proceed with the initial phase of the program
without waiting for the assignment of this individual.
25X1 26 Oct 1962 S) DDR informed DNRO that If NRO ST aff had 25X1
been chosen as project officer for the AQ 12 drone program to serve with Program B
(OSA).
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 66-R-638 Chron -2
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NRO - Organization TS 5 Oct 1962 25X1
Memo for DCI from DD/R, HSJr.
Subj: Meeting with Secretary McNamara, DCI, Deo Secty Gilpatric, and. DNRO Relative to NRO
1. NRO Organization
Mr. McCone presented his paper relative to revision of the NRO organization to eliminate
the present dual reporting feature for the DNRO and the establishment of the Secretary
of Defense as Executive Agent to the National Reconnaissance Planning Group. In
commenting on the proposal Secretary McNama:ra stated that he had always had. reservations
on the requirement for a special organization for reconnaissance and did not understand
why in the long run this could not be handled by normal intelligence organizational
procedures. He went on to state that he would like to look to one organization in the
Defense Department for all intelligence matters and felt that perhaps NSA and NRO should
be subordinate to DIA. Mj. McCone indicated that he felt that both NSA and NRO
activities transcended. strictly military intelligence and that it would be undesirable
to have this subordination. He also ,pointedbut the present difficulties which DIA
was having in getting itself to be a truly :Vinctiona_i organization.
Dr. Charyk and I emphasized the deairability of maintaining a NRO operating at the
present level in order to permit better centralized. direction of the programs of
the various agencies and. to permit streamlined management of the projects so that
research and operations could occur simultaneously.
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Secretary McNamara indicated that while he was satisfied for the present with the
existing NRO organization, he would review Mr. McCone's paper and discuss it with him
at a later date.
NRO Budget Procedures:
Mr. McCone stated his views which were outlindd in the revised NRO organization paper.
He indicated the desire to have a single NRO program and budget which would be 25X1
presented, to the Bureau of the Budget with an indication of the portions for which
CIA, AF, Navy, etc. should have the responsibility. CIA then would defend its portion
through its normal procedures with Congress and money appropriated to it
in the same fashion as the remainder of the CIA budget.
Secretary McNamara stated. that the only question was the preservation of the integrity
of the NRO funds and program. He felt it was essential that none of the agencies could.
transfer funds which had. been designated and defended for NRO purposes to other non-NRO
projects. Mr. McCone concurred in this and indicated that any such transfers would have
to be approved by the Secretary of Defense and, the DCI. (Following the meeting I got
the impression that Dr. Charyk is still hedging on this subject and wishes to establish
internal NRO budgetary controls over the program. However, I am hopeful that this can
be worked out without further reference to you or Secretary McNamara. The latter's
comments to DCI on his paper should be indicative in this respect.).....
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FMSAC Beginnings (MISTIC) 5 October 1962
Dr. Wheelon in discussion with Exec Dir L. B. Kirkpatrick
on 3 October 1962, in particular with relation to where
OSI should be located within the Agency, said that he felt
at that time OSI should more logically remain under the
DD I? however, if the DD/R (later DD/S&T) should get 25X1
then OSI would more logically come under e
He sari he had mentioned to Dr. Scoville his feeling that
both of these organizations should be DD/R responsibilities,
but that D he had not been able to stimulate much interest
on Scoville's part.
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