76. Memorandum by the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Ellsworth)1
Washington, May 24, 1976.
MEMORANDUM FOR
- Secretaries of the Military Departments
- Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Director, Defense Research and Engineering
- Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security
Affairs)
- Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense (Intelligence)/Director of
Defense Intelligence
- Director, National Reconnaissance Office
- Director, Planning and Evaluation
- Director, Defense Intelligence Agency
- Director, National Security Agency
- Director, Net Assessment
SUBJECT
- Defense Intelligence Board
As I announced on 14 May, the Secretary has approved the establishment of
a Defense Intelligence Board to assist me in insuring the maximum
effectiveness and responsiveness of DoD intelligence operations in
meeting user needs.
To this end, I will look to the Board to do the following:
- —Identify key user needs and priorities.
- —Appraise the effectiveness of the intelligence response in
meeting these needs, and develop ways of making this response
better.
- —Determine needed actions on key intelligence issues and problems;
initiate those actions which Board members may take without further
approval; recommend to me actions which require approval of higher
authority.
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An additional, and equally important, purpose of the Board is to provide
a forum for frequent contact between key users and service intelligence
operating and management officials. I regard this sort of regular
face-to-face dialog as indispensable for proper understanding by
intelligence of what is wanted and understanding by users of what
intelligence is capable of doing.
The Board will be chaired by the ASD(I)/DDI when that official is appointed; in the interim, I will
act as Chairman. I would like either you or your designated senior
representative with authority to speak for you to serve on the Board. In
the case of the Military Departments, I would suggest that the Service
“operations deputies” would be suitable representatives. Similarly, I
would suggest the Director, Joint Staff, as the Chairman’s
representative.
In addition to the Board proper, I propose that there be two working
panels, representing users and intelligence producers respectively, and
a third panel on intelligence resources.
Board membership and proposed panel purposes and membership are
summarized on the attachment.
I would like to have the Board meet at least monthly. After a trial
period of six months, I will report to the Secretary on the progress and
usefulness of the Board and provide a recommendation with respect to its
continuation.
I would appreciate being informed of Board member names by Tuesday, 25
May. I intend to hold the first meeting at breakfast on Thursday, 27
May.
Attachment2
I. ORGANIZATION OF THE DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE BOARD
-
Chairman ad interim: Deputy Secretary
Ellsworth
-
Principals or Representatives of:
- —Secretaries of the Military Departments
- —Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
- —Director, Defense Research and Engineering
- —Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security
Affairs)
- —Assistant Secretary of Defense (Program Analysis and
Evaluation)
- —Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense (Intelligence)/Director
Defense Intelligence
- —Director, National Reconnaissance Office
- —Director, Defense Intelligence Agency
- —Director, National Security Agency
- —Director, Net Assessment
II. ORGANIZATION OF DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE BOARD
PANELS
User Panel
—Charter. To consider intelligence
requirements and formulate recommendations pertaining to the
satisfaction of intelligence needs of Defense components in the
Washington area, in the Service Training establishments in the
unified and specified commands and in the Military Departments.
—Chairman: Principal or representative of
Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs)
—Principals or representatives of:
- • Secretaries of the Military Departments
- • Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- • Director, Defense Research and Engineering
- • Assistant Secretary of Defense (Program Analysis and
Evaluation)
- • Director, Net Assessment
- • Others as may be requested from time to time by the Chairman
to address specific topics.
—Meetings: Monthly, or on call of the
Chairman
Producers Panel
—Charter. To consider intelligence user
requirements, intelligence quality enhancement measures, production
delegation tasks, and collection requirements needed to support new,
expanded or more economical production efforts and to address
participation in the NFIB by
DoD representatives as well as
formulating recommendations for consideration and/or implementation
by the DDI and, as appropriate, by
the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Defense.
—Chairman: Director, Defense Intelligence
Agency/Deputy DDI for Production,
Plans and Operations
—Principals or representatives of:
- • Director, National Security Agency
- • Director, National Reconnaissance Office
- • Service Intelligence Chiefs
—Meetings: Monthly, or on call of the
Chairman
Resources Panel
—Charter. To consider the adequacy of
resources to support intelligence needs and to formulate basic and
alternative program and
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budget proposals for consideration by Program Managers, the DDI, the Secretary and Deputy
Secretary of Defense, and the Committee on Foreign Intelligence with
respect to their presentation to the OMB and the Congress.
—Chairman: Deputy ASD(I)/DDI for Programs and Resources
—Principals or representatives of:
- • Director, DIA/Deputy DDI for Production, Plans and
Operations
- • Director, National Reconnaissance Office
- • Director, National Security Agency
- • Service Intelligence Chiefs
- • Others as appropriate for the panel’s operation
—Meetings: On call of the Chairman
