Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXV, Organization of Foreign Policy; Information Policy; United Nations; Scientific Matters

92. Paper Prepared in the Department of Defense¹

Washington, undated.

PLAN FOR THE ACTIVATION OF THE DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

I. General

To accomplish the objectives for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) as specified by the Secretary of Defense, this plan provides for the initiation of action in all areas which are clearly the responsibility of the Director, DIA. The plan is aimed at achieving:

a. The full integration of intelligence resources and functions assigned to the control of the Director, DIA, on a graduated basis;

b. Immediate assumption of planning, coordinating and management responsibilities of all Department of Defense intelligence activities within the purview of the Director, DIA, to achieve maximum economy and efficiency.

Full recognition is given to the necessity to avoid disruption or degradation of these vital intelligence efforts.

In order to preserve the continuity of operations throughout the consolidation process, the plan provides for the taking over and utilization of existing facilities, functions and resources of an individual military department and/or the Joint Staff, wherever feasible. Following this, related activities, resources and functions of the other departments and the Joint Staff are integrated into these facilities under the operational control of the Director, DIA. Initially, this will result in some imbalances in Service representation within DIA in each facility so utilized. This is considered necessary in the interests of continuity. However, the governing policy will be to achieve to the highest practicable degree, an optimum balance of personnel representation from the three military departments. This will be accomplished in accordance with DIA personnel policies aimed at the maintenance of the highest possible quality and security criteria.

As the DIA assumes full operational stature, the Director, DIA, will absorb many of the intelligence responsibilities now exercised by the intelligence chiefs of the military Services, as well as the responsibilities for substantive intelligence matters now exercised by the J–2, Joint Staff. Thus, the Director, DIA, will become the principal staff advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for substantive intelligence matters, and, acting through the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the principal staff assistant to the Secretary of Defense for both substantive intelligence and managerial matters within his areas of assigned responsibility.

The DIA will be a balanced organization designed to support the major echelons of the military operational chain-of-command, the military departments, non-DOD agencies and international treaty organizations, in peace and war, without requiring major organizational readjustments after the onset of hostilities.

Coordination of all intelligence activities and responsibilities remaining with the military departments will be effected by the Director, DIA, supported by the operating elements of the DIA in their respective areas of responsibility, and by the headquarters staff. This arrangement will ensure the efficient allocation of intelligence resources and the effective management of all DOD intelligence efforts. The Military Intelligence Board (Annex A) will be established to advise and assist the Director, DIA, in the exercise of his responsibilities.

II. Organizational Structure

A. Operations (Annex B)

The DIA will arrive at a fully operational status through an evolutionary process. The plan provides for the rapid strengthening of DOD capabilities in the fields of collection, production and dissemination through the establishment of:

1. A Directorate for Acquisition (Annex C)

This Directorate, which will be charged with DIA functions and responsibilities in the fields of intelligence requirements and collection will be further sub-divided as follows:

a. The DIA Requirements Office which will establish the DOD Central Requirements Registry. This Office will also be charged with the examination and validation of all DOD intelligence requirements, the assignment of collection priorities, the designation of collection resources, and the restatement of requirements where necessary to ensure their responsiveness to the needs of all consumers of military intelligence.

b. The DIA Collection Management Office which will maintain a complete and current inventory of all collection resources to include their capabilities, limitations, equipments and operations. This Office will levy validated requirements on appropriate collection agencies and resources, monitor collection responses thereto, and evaluate collection efforts to determine reliability, efficiency and cost factors involved. In addition this Office will stimulate intelligence collection effort through creative planning and the exploitation of scientific and technological developments in their application to intelligence collection activities.

2. A Directorate for Processing which will be charged with the principal substantive intelligence functions and responsibilities of the DIA, and which will directly control and coordinate the production, estimating and current intelligence/indications elements of the DIA. This grouping is essential to the maintenance of a close and continuous interrelationship among these elements, as well as to provide for a similar working relationship with the estimates and production elements of the military Services. This will ensure the full utilization of Service production and estimates capabilities and the incorporation of their inputs into intelligence produced by the DIA. In order to accomplish its mission, the Directorate for Processing will be divided into the following elements:

a. The DIA Current Intelligence/Indications Center (Annex D)

This organization will provide for a single, integrated DOD Current Intelligence/Indications Center designed to meet the needs of the Secretary of Defense and his principal staff assistants, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the military departments, and the commanders of the unified and specified commands and their component commands. In addition, this Center will provide current intelligence/indications support to the President and other senior governmental officials and agencies on a 24-hour basis. It will maintain close working relationships with the production and estimates elements of the DIA and the Services.

b. DIA Estimates Office (Annex E) which will provide all DOD intelligence estimates and contributions to National Intelligence Estimates and the United States Intelligence Board (USIB), and which will assume the estimative responsibilities now charged to the J–2, Joint Staff.

c. The DIA Production Center (Annex F) which will, through a time-phased schedule, and in consonance with the concept provided herein, integrate DOD intelligence production as required to discharge the functions and responsibilities assigned to the Director, DIA.

B. Headquarters Establishment, DIA (Annex G)

The headquarters establishment of the DIA will provide adequate administrative support to the headquarters and supervision over the administration of the entire organization, and will assist the Director, DIA, in the exercise of his planning, programming, management and supervisory responsibilities for the overall DOD intelligence effort. This organizational structure will provide for maximum efficiency of operation with minimum requirement for revision during the evolutionary development of the DIA. The headquarters organization will provide the structure for all the elements which will be required in the headquarters when the DIA becomes fully operational.

1. Initially, the manning of the headquarters requires assignment of approximately 125 people, including both professional and administrative support personnel. This level of manning should be provided for as early as practicable after 1 October 1961, but in any event, no later than 31 October 1961.

2. During the period ending 1 July 1962, the headquarters complement will increase to a maximum of 250 personnel. This increase reflects the development of a full capability within the headquarters staff to discharge the responsibilities presently assigned.

C. Management Responsibilities

The major elements of the staff will be responsible for management functions as follows:

1. The Assistant Chief of Staff, Administration, will provide for headquarters administrative support and security and will be responsible for the initiation and conduct of an integrated personnel program for the career development of defense intelligence personnel. This office will manage the personnel activities of the headquarters, DIA, and will coordinate a Defense Intelligence Personnel Program for both civilian and military personnel. The Defense Intelligence Personnel Program will be initiated on 1 July 1962.

2. The Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans, Policies and Programs will initiate short and mid-range planning immediately upon activation. The Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans, Policy and Programs will be responsible for the development of an aggressive program for the improvement of defense intelligence activities under the cognizance of the Director, DIA. Long range plans for defense intelligence operations and activities will be developed and will serve as the basis for evaluation and possible consolidation of the intelligence programs of the Services. In the development of long range plans and of programs, full cognizance will be taken of probable resource availability for future requirements based on scientific and technological forecasts.

3. The Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence Support Systems will be responsible for the development of intelligence R&D requirements, for coordination of intelligence research and development, for liaison with all defense research, development and testing organizations having related interests or programs. He will also be responsible for the implementation of systems management in intelligence major project areas as directed. In addition, this office will be responsible for the integration of intelligence plans and programs for automation and automatic data processing to ensure that they complement each other and those of non-DOD intelligence agencies to the maximum extent practicable.

4. The Assistant Chief of Staff, Comptroller, will provide financial management and direction for obtaining effective utilization of Department of Defense intelligence resources. This office will review and evaluate budget estimates for all intelligence activities assigned or subject to review and coordination by the Director, DIA, and prepare and submit a consolidated budget for DOD intelligence activities together with recommendations pertaining thereto; and will participate in the administration of the consolidated budget. This office will conduct management engineering studies and review and analysis of programs to ensure maximum economy and efficiency. Statistical services, reports control and design, and other internal management services will be provided as directed.

5. The Inspector General will perform normal inspection functions within the internal DIA organization and for all agencies, installations and facilities assigned to the operational control of the Director, DIA. His inspection function will emphasize manner of performance, quality evaluation and operational readiness. In addition, he will perform such duties as relate to the monitoring, coordinating, and supervisory responsibilities of the Director, DIA, as the Director, DIA, requires.

1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Departments and Agencies Series, Department of Defense, Defense Intelligence Agency, 1961. Secret. The paper is undated, but a typed notation on the cover page indicates that the plan was approved by the Secretary of Defense on September 29. Annexes A through G are not printed.