LETTER TO (SANITIZED) FROM STANSFIELD TURNER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP05S00620R000601420088-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 17, 2009
• Sequence Number: 88
• Publication Date: January 24, 1978
• Content Type: LETTER

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Central Intelligence Agency
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.24 January 1978
STAT
I can. understand the concerned tone of your letter, but hasten
to assure you that I am committed to strengthening the Agency and
preparing it to meet the increasing demands it faces now and in STAT
the future.
Di.d you ever chafe at the mounting underemployment, over-
supervision and proliferation of staffs at Headquarters? Before I
arrived, it had been determined that these were symptoms of too many
people in the clandestine service. After consultation with the Agency
leadership, I concurred. I know of no informed person who has questioned
that decision. Let me assure you that there was nothing "whimsical"
about the firing of these "ex erienced, dedicated operations officers."
There is no way to dismiss people that is pleasant. It was done
with great deliberation, soberness and regret. Do you know, however,
the average age of all GS-15s, 16s and 17s is between 49.8 and 50.1
years? Do you think when they all retire in 4-6 years we can be well
prepared to replace them? What I have. suffered through in this traumatic
cutting-back is the total pain that was previously avoided by the Agency
in hanging on to too many people who are capable and dedicated but excess
to our requirements. If we are not careful, we will truly not have a
clandestine service in five or ten years unless we plan better and are
more willing to face the facts.
I particularly disagree with one point when you speak about the
problems of promising young candidates. You are concerned that they
look forward to a "secure career progression." I'm not interested in
providing sinecures or tenure to people even in the DDO. We simply
cannot afford that if we are going to be in an elite, effective and
highly qualified organization. There must be competition. I am working
hard to ensure that there is a "progression" as you suggest. That,
however, means that there must be vacancies up and down the line within
the DDO structure. This, in turn, means that we must plan the manage-
ment of our personnel more systematically and avoid "bunching" of people
simply because they don't want to retire.
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The biggest threat to the DDO today is really not any of the
ones which you mention. It is self-assassination by ex-employees
who, by going to the press, are persuading the American public that
they are not reliable and responsive to duly constituted authority.
From what I've been told of your career here, I believe you
would applaud many of the steps we are taking if you were more fully
informed. The leadership of your former component is being stabilized,
overseas staffing will be strengthened, new emphasis is being given
to professionalism and operational capabilities to meet increasing
tasks and demands. Our personnel efforts are designed to ensure that
there is a continuing flow of qualified employees and that they have
promotional opportunities. In short, I'm "bullish" on the Agency and
its future. I think you'd have a brighter outlook too if you were
here.
I hope you are enjoying your well-earned retirement. As you can
see, I personally read my mail and would welcome any constructive
suggestions you care to make.
Yours,
STANSFIELD TURNER
STAT
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S
Admiral 'Stansfield Turner
Director, Central Intelligence
Sir: 1
If it is true, as I have been told, that you!have surrounded
yourself with a coterie of "special assistants" which effectively
isolates youlfrom the mainstream of the businessPf clandestine
intelligence tiis letter will never reach you. But on the off chance
that you will see it, I am setting down my views as to what can
happen if the present attitudes toward the clandestine arm of the
Agency does not change - and soon.
I don't have to tell you that in the wake of the dismissals of
senior and mid-level operations officers the morale in the DDO is at an
all time low, You are also aware, I'm certain, that the posture of the
U.S. Congress makes it much more complicated to carry out the kinds of
covert operations that protected our national interests for so many
years. You certainly appreciate now that impetuous interviews with the
press only make matters worse. In fact, clandestine intelligence
operations cannot have "good publicity."
Any old-timer could have advised you that previous meat-axe type
firings were later regretted bitterly. That is not to say that there
should not be a weeding out process but on a considered and continuing
basis. So, what may we now expect after seeing the almost whimsical
firing of experienced, dedicated operations officers? I think the following:
More publicity, embarassing to the Agency, the U.S. Government,
.and to you personally, will come from understandably bitter officers who
have received "pink slips."
Rriendly foreign liaison services will be reluctant to share their
take with us.
It will be more difficult to recruit foreign agents who will no
longer believe that they would be working for a professional secret service.
American citizens will think twice before volunteering information.
to an organization that is unable to keep its secrets or to protect its
people.
Promising young candidates for a careei in DDO will decide that they
will be better off in some other activity where they could look forward
to a more promising and secure career progression.
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And the r4sult of all this will be a weakened intelligence
capability, an inability to tell the policy makers what is going on
around the world, and a vulnerability to surprise.;
It takes a long time, Admiral, to develop a Iophisticated,
professional secret intelligence service. It takes a much shorter time
to destroy it. ~ Its a little late, but think about and try talking to
some of the real professionals still.in the business.
I don't write books about how I was not appreciated during my
career and I don't leak stories to the press. But'as a former operations
officer (whose career included intelligence work also in the U.S. Navy
and the State Department) I am deeply disturbed by;what is happening today
to CIA's ability to run agent operations, and I submit that you as the
boss should be too. STAT
My file bearing my credentials is still there should you wish to
have it reviewed. In sum, I retired voluntarily upon reaching fifty-five
years of age, at the grade of GS-16, and follovrina service in
STAT
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