December 16, 2008

Statement by the Director of National Intelligence
Mr. Mike McConnell

The Intelligence Community congratulates Senator Dianne Feinstein on her nomination to become Chairwoman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.  Senator Feinstein has been an influential and insightful member of the Committee for many years.  Her understanding of the threats facing the nation allows her to effectively lead this critical oversight committee.  On behalf of our Community, I welcome Senator Feinstein's nomination, and we look forward to working with her and the entire committee in the 111th Congress as they carry out their important work.

I want to also thank Chairman Rockefeller for his unwavering leadership over the past two years as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.  Prior to assuming the role as Chairman, Senator Rockefeller served as both Vice Chairman and as a member of the committee for nearly a decade.  Our Community has been privileged to work with the distinguished Senator who is both passionate and devoted to the vital work that we do.  We are fortunate that he will continue to serve on this committee in the 111th Congress.

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December 23, 2008: ODNI Leaders Take Part in Cyber Security "War Games"

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January 1, 2009: South Carolina Media Spotlight DNI's Appearance At 2008 Renaissance Weekend

DNI Mike McConnell appeared on five panel discussions on intelligence and national security at this year's 2008 Renaissance Weekend retreat in Charleston, S.C., December 28 through January 1.  During breaks in the conference schedule, television network affiliates in Charleston and a leading regional newspaper interviewed McConnell on issues that will face President-elect Obama, including the progress of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and nuclear programs in North Korea and Iran.  The DNI also noted the intelligence community's ongoing success in uncovering terrorist threats.  Click on the links below to read more about the DNI's appearance at the Renaissance Weekend retreat:

- The Post and the Courier - Sexuality part of life, Dr. Ruth says

- Segment on WCIV-CHS, an ABC affiliate in Charleston, S.C.

- Segment on WCBD-CHS, an NBC affiliate in Charleston, S.C.

NATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER (NCTC)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 7, 2009

NCTC RELEASES 2009 COUNTERTERRORISM CALENDAR

2009 Calendar Highlights:

• Contains more counterterrorism information than any previous edition
• Online multimedia version includes new interactive map feature

The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) today announced the release of its 2009 counterterrorism calendar. The calendar, popular with a broad spectrum of federal, state, and local first responders; homeland security professionals; policy makers; and counterterrorism experts, is now available via NCTC’s website at www.nctc.gov as both a downloadable PDF and a multimedia website.

NCTC has published a “daily planner” print version of its counterterrorism calendar since 2005.  This year’s print calendar contains 160 pages of information on known terrorist groups, individual terrorists, and technical information on topics such as biological and chemical threats and explosives.  The 2009 edition contains more counterterrorism information than any previous edition, as well as the most comprehensive index to date, making it easier for law enforcement and first responders to find the information they need about everything from Anthrax to VBEIDs (Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices).

The online version of the calendar provides the public with user-friendly access to the same information, with the addition of locator maps, photographs, and lists of helpful links specific to each threat area.  Special features of the site include an interactive counterterrorism timeline which allows users to explore key dates, including the anniversaries of terrorism-related incidents dating as far back as 1950, and a new interactive map feature that allows users to mouse-over terrorist group names and see their corresponding location(s). 

NCTC spokesperson, Leslie Jewell, said, “A calendar featuring terrorist incidents, bad guys with bounties on their heads, deadly chemical agents, and terrorist organizations may not sound like the typical desk calendar to most Americans, but it’s a prized resource for law enforcement and national security personnel.  In addition to profiles on known terrorists and terrorist organizations, the calendar provides invaluable first-responder information on suspicious substances, a variety of biological and chemical threats, and indicators of suspicious financial activity and forged documents.  Our multimedia web version of the calendar provides easier, broader access to this information for emergency services providers, government personnel, researchers, and the general public.”

Both versions of the calendar include key U.S. and other national holidays, as well as Christian, Islamic, and Jewish holidays.  Each day shows both the Gregorian date and the equivalent Islamic calendar (Hijra) date.

The unclassified counterterrorism calendar originated within the Intelligence Community as a wall calendar during the 1990s, and transformed into a daily planner in 2003. It has been published by NCTC both in print and in an online PDF since 2005.  Approximately 40,000 copies of the print version of the 2009 calendar were published this year.  The interactive online version went live in the summer of 2007 and has been fully updated for 2009.

NCTC Mission: Lead our nation’s effort to combat terrorism at home and abroad by analyzing the threat, sharing that information with our partners, and integrating all instruments of national power to ensure unity of effort.

ENCLICKTAGENOPENTAG

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January 8, 2009: Strategic Implications of Global Health

January 8, 2009: Strategic Implications of Global Health - Foldout

January 9, 2009

Statement by the Director of National Intelligence
Mr. Mike McConnell

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January 12, 2009: Senator John D. Rockefeller IV Awarded National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal

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January 14, 2009: Intelligence Journal Features ODNI Authors

Two current and one recently retired ODNI officers contributed to the current edition of "The Intelligencer: Journal of U.S. Intelligence Studies," published by the Association of Former Intelligence Officers. M.E. "Spike" Bowman wrote on privacy considerations and Project Shamrock, a Cold War intercept program. Melissa E. Hathaway described the economic and national security implications of cyber threats. And Thomas Fingar summarized projections for the future contained in "Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World," which ODNI's National Intelligence Council published in November 2008.

The journal is available at (Volume 16, Number 2, Fall 2008) www.afio.com.

January 14, 2009:  DNI on The Charlie Rose Show

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell discussed the progress of intelligence reform with PBS television host Charlie Rose on a program that first aired on Jan 8. The wide-ranging hour-long interview also touched on intelligence challenges posed by the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, on Gaza, on the situation in Pakistan and India and on cyber security and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The interview can be viewed by clicking here.

A copy of the transcript can be viewed by clicking here.

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January 15, 2009: Fact Sheet: Continued Progress in Reforming Intelligence

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January 15, 2009: Fact Sheet: Continued Progress in Reforming Intelligence

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January 16, 2009: Media Roundtable with DNI McConnell

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January 18, 2009:  CBS Sunday Program Features ODNI Leader on Cybersecurity

On January 18, CBS television's "Sunday Morning" reported on cybersecurity threats facing the incoming Administration by interviewing the ODNI's Dr. Joel F. Brenner.

Dr. Brenner leads the Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive, a mission support activity of the ODNI.

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January 18, 2009: Dr. Joel Brenner, National Counterintelligence Executive, Interviewed on CBS News' "Sunday Morning"

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January 21, 2009: Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (Acting): Lieutenant General Ronald L. Burgess, Jr., USA

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January 21, 2009:  DNI McConnell's Media Roundtable Yields Stories on Threat Levels, Intelligence Sharing

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January 23, 2009:  Wall Street Journal Spotlights ODNI's Information Integration Program

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January 21, 2009: Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 501 - Discovery and Dissemination or Retrieval of Information within the Intelligence Community

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January 12, 2009: 500 Day Plan Update at Day 400

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January 26, 2009:  USA TODAY Highlights DNI's Commitment to Civil Liberties

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January 16, 2009: Intelligence Community Policy Guidance (ICPG) 101.1 - Intelligence Community Directives and Policy Guidance

January 16, 2009: Intelligence Community Policy Guidance (ICPG) 101.2 - Intelligence Community Standards

January 16, 2009: Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 101 - Intelligence Community Policy System

January 14, 2009: Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 902 - Global Maritime and Air Intelligence Integration

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January 30, 2009: Director of National Intelligence: Dennis C. Blair

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February 2, 2009: 2008 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Annual Report

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2009 Report: An Overview of the United States Intelligence Community for the 111th Congress

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January 16, 2009: 500 Day Plan Follow-Up Report - (Part I) (Part II)

The 500 Day Plan Follow-Up Report is now available. The completed initiatives (39 within the 500 Days) resulted in a number of significant Intelligence Community accomplishments, and helped initiate the transformation needed across the IC.

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February 5, 2009:  Virtual Networking Improving Collaborative Terrorism Analysis

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February 5, 2009: Added biography of Julie E. Cohen, National Intelligence Officer for Transnational Threats

February 5, 2009: Added biography of John F. McShane, National Intelligence Officer for Western Hemisphere

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February 12, 2009:  Director Blair Highlights Global Threats to the Nation

February 13, 2009

Statement by the Director of National Intelligence
Mr. Dennis C. Blair

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February 25, 2009:  Statement for the Record by Dennis C. Blair, Director of National Intelligence - Annual Threat Assessment Hearing for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

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February 25, 2009: Acting Chief Information Officer: Sherrill Nicely

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DNI NAMES NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COUNCIL

Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair has selected Charles W. Freeman, Jr. to be Chairman of the National Intelligence Council (NIC).  As Chairman, Ambassador Freeman will be responsible for overseeing the production of National Intelligence Estimates (NIEs) and other Intelligence Community (IC) analytic products.

“Ambassador Freeman is a distinguished public servant who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in defense, diplomacy and intelligence that are absolutely critical to understanding today’s threats and how to address them,” Director Blair said.  “The country is fortunate that Ambassador Freeman has agreed to return to public service and contribute his remarkable skills toward further strengthening the Intelligence Community’s analytical process.” 

As a former United States negotiator, Freeman has worked with more than 100 foreign governments in East and South Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and both Western and Eastern Europe.  He has served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires in Bangkok and Beijing, Director of Chinese Affairs at U.S. State Department, and Distinguished Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace and the Institute of National Security Studies.  Freeman received his J.D. from the Harvard School of Law.

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March 2009: Data Mining Report

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March 10, 2009:  Statement for the Record by Dennis C. Blair, Director of National Intelligence - Annual Threat Assessment Hearing for the Senate Armed Services Committee

This Statement for the Record was previously delivered to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on February 12, 2009 & February 25, 2009.

March 10, 2009

 Statement by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence

Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair announced today that Ambassador Charles W. Freeman Jr. has requested that his selection to be Chairman of the National Intelligence Council not proceed.  Director Blair accepted Ambassador Freeman’s decision with regret.

DNI APPOINTS FIRST DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

DNI APPOINTS NEW DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Wendy Morigi has joined the Office of the Director of National Intelligence as its director of public affairs.

For nearly eight years, Morigi served as the communications director for U.S. Sen. John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, the former chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair welcomed Morigi as a communications professional experienced in intelligence and national security issues.

“Wendy has a broad understanding of the intelligence challenges and priorities facing the country as well as a deep appreciation for the men and women who work to keep America safe,” said Director Blair.  “Her experience and background will allow her to communicate effectively our work throughout the Intelligence Community and to the American public.”
 
Prior to her work for Sen. Rockefeller, Morigi served as press secretary to U.S. Sen. Charles S. Robb and U.S. Rep. John Olver.  She also worked for two years as a program associate for an international consulting firm based in Washington, D.C.  Most recently, Morigi served as the national security spokesperson for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign handling intelligence, foreign policy, defense and veterans issues.
 
She began her new job Feb. 16.
 
Richard Willing, public affairs director since March 2008, joins the ODNI's Directorate of Analysis as senior projects coordinator.  He is responsible for supplying content to current projects and for helping develop applications to meet future needs.  Willing reports to Dr. Peter Lavoy, deputy director of national intelligence for analysis. 

NEW DIRECTOR OF THE INTELLIGENCE STAFF JOINS ODNI

DNI APPOINTS FIRST DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

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March 19, 2009: Intelligence Community Policy Guidance (ICPG) 801.2 - Contracting and Procurement Policy

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March 26, 2009: Media Roundtable with DNI Blair

DNI Appoints NEW inspector general

Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair has appointed Ms. Roslyn A. Mazer, a Justice Department Official, as Inspector General (IG) of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Since 2002, Ms. Mazer has served as Investigative Counsel in the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, where she has led teams of attorneys, inspectors, and auditors in conducting complex review of the FBI’s compliance with Attorney General Guidelines, congressionally-mandated review of National Security Letter authorities, and allegations of misconduct by Department personnel. She has served in the Department of Justice for more than 14 years, including as Associate Deputy Attorney General. Prior to her federal service, Ms. Mazer was in private practice.

“Having a strong and independent Inspector General is essential for the ODNI,” said Director Blair. “Roslyn’s experience at the Justice Department, especially in the Inspector General’s Office, equips her well for this responsibility. I look forward to her contributions as we move forward.”

The Intelligence Reform & Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 amended the Inspector General Act of 1978, granting the Director of National Intelligence authority to establish an Office of the Inspector General. Recognizing the important role an IG can play in improving the operations and effectiveness of the ODNI and the Intelligence Community, the DNI created this position in September of 2005.

As Inspector General of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Ms. Mazer will be responsible for planning, conducting, supervising and coordinating inspections, audits, investigations and other inquiries related to the programs and operations of the ODNI, as well as for providing policy direction in these matters.

The mission of her office is to ensure accountability and integrity in the performance of duties and the expenditure of funds, and to provide analyses and insights that will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of programs for which the ODNI is responsible. Her office will also exercise coordination and leadership, working with the inspectors general of other intelligence agencies, in carrying out cross-agency projects and fulfilling community-wide objectives established under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.

Ms. Mazer will begin work on April 24th, 2009. She succeeds Mr. Edward Maguire, who joined the ODNI in July of 2005.

Mazer received her J.D. from the Columbus School of Law of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She received her B.A. from Syracuse University.

DNI Blair Announces Plan for the Next Generation of Electro-Optical Satellites

Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair announced today that the Office of the DNI along with the Department of Defense (DoD) have put together a plan to modernize the nation’s aging satellite-imagery architecture by prudently evolving government-owned satellite designs and enhancing use of U.S. commercial providers.

“Imagery is a core component of our national security that supports our troops, foreign policy, homeland security and the needs of our Intelligence Community,” Blair said.  “Our proposal is an integrated, sustainable approach based on cost, feasibility and timeliness that meets the needs of our country now and puts in place a system to ensure that we will not have imagery gaps in the future. 

“When it comes to supporting our military forces and the safety of Americans, we cannot afford any gaps in collection,” Blair added.  “We are living with the consequences of past mistakes in acquisition strategy, and we cannot afford to do so again. We’ve studied this issue, know the right course, and need to move forward now.”

The joint decision by the DNI and DoD was based on the results of multiple government studies over the past several years, and on the findings and recommendations of an independent panel of former defense and intelligence experts convened by Blair to assess the U.S. government’s review.  The studies examined imagery needs, alternative architectures, cost and affordability, technological risk and industry readiness.

Key features of the final plan endorsed by both the DNI and the DoD include:

• Government-owned satellites would be developed, built and operated by the National Reconnaissance Office.  The unique capabilities of these satellites, evolved from existing designs, would give the nation a timely, and often decisive, information advantage.

• The Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community would increase the use of imagery available through U.S. commercial providers.  This additional capability would provide the government with more flexibility to respond to unforeseen challenges.  These less-complex satellites, which are based on technologies already in production by U.S. vendors, would be available sooner than the much more capable NRO-developed and acquired systems – making them especially useful as a near-term supplement and backup to the government’s existing imagery architecture.

• The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency would continue to provide the infrastructure that integrates capabilities as well as imagery products – all of which would be available on a timely basis for military, intelligence, foreign policy and civilian users.

Once Congress approves funding for the plan, implementation will begin in the next several months.  The commercial imagery elements of the architecture would likely be operational in the next several years. The overall architecture would be fully deployed before the end of the next decade.

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April 9, 2009: ODNI Releases 2008 IC Employee Climate Survey

April 9, 2009: IC 2008 Employee Climate Survey: Summary of Results

ODNI ANNOUNCES STUDENT OPPORTUNITY THIS SUMMER IN NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is seeking about 30 highly motivated graduate students and college seniors interested in careers in intelligence analysis to study and work with currently serving analysts during an intensive two-week residential seminar.

The hands-on seminar, the first such exercise sponsored by the ODNI, will be held July 13 through July 24 in Washington, D.C. and will address the theme: “Political Instability – International Systems in Transition.”

The program will include lectures, field trips to agencies and work on an intelligence problem under the direction of analysts drawn from the Intelligence Community. Students who qualify will receive Secret level security clearances for the duration of the seminar.

The curriculum is being developed by the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies of the Johns Hopkins University and by the seminar’s co-sponsors, the Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Analysis and the Office of the Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence. Successful applicants will receive travel expenses, room and board, course materials and a $1,000 stipend.

Application deadline is April 30.

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April 9, 2009: Mr. Michael E. Leiter, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), Addresses the Aspen Institute 

April 3, 2009: Dr. Joel F. Brenner, National Counterintelligence Executive, Addresses the Applied Research Laboratories at the University of Texas at Austin

FORMER REPRESENTATIVE HEATHER WILSON AWARDED NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SUPERIOR PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL

Statement by the Director of National Intelligence
Dennis C. Blair

April 16, 2009

The Department of Justice released today four previous Office of Legal Counsel opinions which concluded certain harsh interrogation techniques used by CIA officers on suspected al Qa’ida terrorists were legal. The opinions spell out in graphic detail techniques used in questioning high value detainees suspected of involvement in, and plans for, terrorist activity against the United States and its allies.

As the leader of the Intelligence Community, I am trying to put these issues into perspective. We cannot undo the events of the past; we must understand them and use this understanding as we move into the future.

It is important to remember the context of these past events. All of us remember the horror of 9/11. For months afterwards we did not have a clear understanding of the enemy we were dealing with, and our every effort was focused on preventing further attacks that would kill more Americans. It was during these months that the CIA was struggling to obtain critical information from captured al Qa’ida leaders, and requested permission to use harsher interrogation methods. The OLC memos make clear that senior legal officials judged the harsher methods to be legal.

Those methods, read on a bright, sunny, safe day in April 2009, appear graphic and disturbing. As the President has made clear, and as both CIA Director Panetta and I have stated, we will not use those techniques in the future. But we will absolutely defend those who relied on these memos and those guidelines.

As a young Navy officer during the Vietnam years, I experienced public scorn for those of us who served in the Armed Forces during an unpopular war. Challenging and debating the wisdom and policies linked to wars and warfighting is important and legitimate; however disrespect for those who serve honorably within legal guidelines is not. I remember well the pain of those of us who served our country even when the policies we were carrying out were unpopular or could be second-guessed.

We in the Intelligence Community should not be subjected to similar pain. Let the debate focus on the law and our national security. Let us be thankful that we have public servants who seek to do the difficult work of protecting our country under the explicit assurance that their actions are both necessary and legal.

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April 30, 2009:  Statement for the Record by Dr. Ronald P. Sanders, Associate Director of National Intelligence for Human Capital and Intelligence Community Chief Human Capital Officer.

Hearing on "National Security Reform: Implementing a National Security Service Workforce" before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs - Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia.

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National Counterproliferation Center Launches www.CounterWMD.gov

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Intelligence Community Named One of the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government

The Intelligence Community (IC) was honored on Wednesday as one of the 2009 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government in an independent analysis of federal workers’ job satisfaction and commitment.  This was the first time that the IC on the whole – ranked fourth overall among large agencies – was included in the results, which were announced at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The rankings were compiled by the Partnership for Public Service (PPS) and American University’s Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation (ISPPI).  PPS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that aims to attract people to federal careers and improve how the government runs.  The institute conducts research and helps federal leaders solve difficult public-policy issues.

“Intelligence professionals honorably serve the nation at large, as well as its elected leadership, and they do so in ways that often put their own lives at risk,” said IC Chief Human Capital Officer Ronald P. Sanders, who works in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).  “They deserve a workplace that is every bit as good as they are, and DNI Dennis C. Blair and the rest of the IC’s senior leaders are committed to giving them one.”

Rankings are based on data from the biannual Federal Human Capital Survey, which the U.S. Office of Personnel Management administers.  To maintain the security of information about its work force, the IC on the whole doesn’t participate in that survey – instead relying on its own instrument to assess each year how its workers feel about issues such as job satisfaction, professional development and the effectiveness of senior leaders. 

For the 2009 Best Places evaluation, PPS asked Sanders’s office to include several questions from the federal survey in the IC’s 2008 Employee Climate Survey.  That way, the Community’s information would be comparable with that from other organizations under consideration for Best Places.  

Among other large federal agencies that also ranked in the overall Top 10 this year:  the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Government Accountability Office, National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the U.S. departments of State and Justice.

The 2009 results drew on responses from 212,000 federal employees across 278 agencies and subcomponents.  Since the first rankings were produced in 2003, they have provided federal managers and leaders with data to help boost employee engagement.  Additionally, the results are a resource for current and prospective employees, researchers and policymakers.  More details are available online at www.bestplacestowork.org.

Last month the IC announced results from its 2008 Employee Climate Survey, which found that its workers continue to rate their agencies more favorably in many areas than other federal workers assess the government in general.  Those findings are also available online at www.dni.gov/reports/IC-Survey_2008.pdf.

The ODNI oversees 16 federal organizations that make up the U.S. Intelligence Community.