CIA 2

Today's CIA
The CIA is an independent agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior US policymakers. The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (D/CIA) is nominated by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Director manages the operations, personnel, and budget of the Central Intelligence Agency.

The CIA is separated into four basic components: the National Clandestine Service, the Directorate of Intelligence, the Directorate of Science & Technology, and the Directorate of Support. They carry out “the intelligence cycle,” the process of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence information to top US government officials.

In addition, the D/CIA has several staffs that deal with public affairs, human resources, protocol, congressional affairs, legal issues, information management, and internal oversight.


Posted: Apr 05, 2007 11:10 AM
Last Updated: May 08, 2012 01:42 PM
Last Reviewed: Dec 30, 2011 12:36 PM

Who We Are
The CIA is responsible for providing intelligence on a wide range of national security issues to senior US policymakers. The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (D/CIA) is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Director manages the operations, personnel and budget of the Central Intelligence Agency and acts as the National Human Source Intelligence (HUMINT) Manager.



Overview of CIA’s Organization
The CIA is separated into four basic components. They carry out “the intelligence cycle,” the process of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence information to top US government officials.

The National Clandestine Service (NCS) has responsibility for the clandestine collection of foreign intelligence, primarily human source intelligence (HUMINT).

The NCS serves as the national authority for coordination, de-confliction, and evaluation of clandestine HUMINT operations across the Intelligence Community, consistent with existing laws, executive orders, and interagency agreements. The NCS is the front-line source of clandestine intelligence on critical international developments ranging from terrorism and weapons proliferation to military and political issues. To gather this important intelligence, CIA operations officers live and work overseas to establish and maintain networks and personal relationships with foreign “assets” in the field.

The Directorate of Intelligence (DI) analyzes all-source intelligence and produces reports, briefings, and papers on key foreign intelligence issues. This information comes from a variety of sources and methods, including US personnel overseas, agent reports, satellite photography, foreign media, and sophisticated sensors.

The DI is responsible for timeliness, accuracy, and relevance of intelligence analysis that is of concern to national security policymakers and other intelligence consumers. While the CIA does not make foreign policy, our analysis of intelligence on overseas developments feeds into the informed decisions by policymakers and other senior decision makers in the national security and defense arenas.

The Directorate of Science and Technology (DS&T) accesses, collects, and exploits information to facilitate the execution of the Agency’s mission by applying innovative, scientific, engineering, and technical solutions to the most critical intelligence problems. The DS&T incorporates over 50 different disciplines ranging from computer programmers and engineers to scientists and analysts. The DS&T partners with many other organizations in the Intelligence Community, using best practices to foster creative thinking and working level coordination. The DS&T continually seeks to push the boundaries of the state-of-the-art, infusing cutting-edge technologies with effective targeting and tradecraft.

The Directorate of Support (DS) provides support that is critical to the Agency's intelligence mission. The DS delivers a full range of support, including: acquisitions, communications, facilities services, financial management, information technology, medical services, logistics, and the security of Agency personnel, information, facilities and technology.

DS services are international in focus, clandestine in nature, and offered on a 24/7 basis. Its responsibilities extend well beyond the CIA, into the greater Intelligence Community.

The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (D/CIA) has several staffs directly subordinate to him that deal with public affairs, human resources, mission innovation, protocol, congressional affairs, legal issues, information management, and internal oversight.


Posted: Apr 05, 2007 10:08 AM
Last Updated: Dec 30, 2011 12:37 PM
Last Reviewed: Dec 30, 2011 12:37 PM

What We Do
CIA’s primary mission is to collect, analyze, evaluate, and disseminate foreign intelligence to assist the President and senior US government policymakers in making decisions relating to national security. This is a very complex process and involves a variety of steps.

First, we have to identify a problem or an issue of national security concern to the US government. In some cases, CIA is directed to study an intelligence issue—such as what activities terrorist organizations are planning, or how countries that have biological or chemical weapons plan to use these weapons—then we look for a way to collect information about the problem.

There are several ways to collect information. Translating foreign newspaper and magazine articles and radio and television broadcasts provides open-source intelligence. Imagery satellites take pictures from space, and imagery analysts write reports about what they see–for example, how many airplanes are at a foreign military base. Signals analysts work to decrypt coded messages sent by other countries. Operations officers recruit foreigners to give information about their countries.

After the information is collected, intelligence analysts pull together the relevant information from all available sources and assess what is happening, why it is happening, what might occur next, and what it means for US interests. The result of this analytic effort is timely and objective assessments, free of any political bias, provided to senior US policymakers in the form of finished intelligence products that include written reports and oral briefings. One of these reports is the President’s Daily Brief (PDB), an Intelligence Community product, which the US president and other senior officials receive each day.

It is important to know that CIA analysts only report the information and do not make policy recommendations—making policy is left to agencies such as the State Department and Department of Defense. These policymakers use the information that CIA provides to help them formulate US policy toward other countries. It is also important to know that CIA is not a law enforcement organization. That is the job of the FBI; however, the CIA and the FBI cooperate on a number of issues, such as counterintelligence and counterterrorism. Additionally, the CIA may also engage in covert action at the President’s direction and in accordance with applicable law.

The US Congress has had oversight responsibility of the CIA since the Agency was established in 1947. However, prior to the mid-1970’s, oversight was less formal. The 1980 Intelligence Oversight Act charged the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) with authorizing the programs of the intelligence agencies and overseeing their activities.


Posted: Apr 05, 2007 10:09 AM
Last Updated: Nov 29, 2012 02:06 PM
Last Reviewed: Dec 30, 2011 12:38 PM

George Bush Center for Intelligence
The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999* was signed into law by the President on October 20, 1998. Among its provisions, the Act directed that the Headquarters compound of the Central Intelligence Agency located in Langley, Virginia, shall be known and designated as the "George Bush Center for Intelligence."

Former President George Bush was Director of Central Intelligence and head of the Central Intelligence Agency from 30 January 1976 to 20 January 1977.

On April 26, 1999, Agency employees, senior officials from current and previous Administrations and Congresses, former Directors and Deputy Directors of Central Intelligence, family members, and friends joined former President Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush in ceremonies dedicating the Headquarters compound as the George Bush Center for Intelligence.

Activities included a ceremony which included remarks by then Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet, Representative Rob Portman, and President Bush; a wreath-laying ceremony at the Central Intelligence Agency’s Memorial Wall; a reception for the Bush family; and informal remarks by President Bush to Agency employees.

Remarks of then Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet Introducing President Bush
President George H. W. Bush's remarks
Representative Rob Portman's remarks
Photographs



* Public Law 105-272--October 20, 1998, Title III, 112 STAT.2403, Sec. 309


Posted: Apr 05, 2007 11:11 AM
Last Updated: Dec 30, 2011 12:39 PM
Last Reviewed: Dec 30, 2011 12:39 PM

Leadership
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
The Acting Director of the Central Intelligence Agency is Michael J. Morell. The D/CIA serves as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency and reports to the Director of National Intelligence. The D/CIA is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Director manages the operations, personnel and budget of the CIA and acts as the National Human Source Intelligence (HUMINT) Manager.


Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
The Deputy Director of CIA assists the Director in his duties as head of the CIA and exercises the powers of the Director when the Director’s position is vacant or in the Director’s absence or disability.



Associate Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
The Associate Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, a position created July 5, 2006, was delegated all authorities and responsibilities vested previously in the post of Executive Director. The post of Executive Director, which was responsible for managing the CIA on a day-to-day basis, was simultaneously abolished. The current Associate Deputy Director is V. Sue Bromley.


Director of Intelligence
The Directorate of Intelligence, the analytical branch of the CIA, is responsible for the production and dissemination of all-source intelligence analysis on key foreign issues. The current director is Fran P. Moore.


Director of the National Clandestine Service
The National Clandestine Service is responsible for the clandestine collection of foreign intelligence. The current director is undercover.


Director for Science & Technology
The Directorate of Science and Technology creates and applies innovative technology in support of the intelligence collection mission. The current director is Glenn A. Gaffney.


Director of Support
The Directorate of Support provides the mission critical elements of the Agency's support foundation: people, security, information, property, and financial operations.The current director is Susan M. Gordon.


Director of the Center for the Study of Intelligence
The Center for the Study of Intelligence maintains the Agency's historical materials and promotes the study of intelligence as a legitimate and serious discipline. The current director is Peter S. Usowski.


General Counsel
The Office of General Counsel advises the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency on all legal matters relating to his role as CIA director and is the principal source of legal counsel for the CIA.


Inspector General
The Office of Inspector General is an independent office in the CIA that is headed by the Inspector General and promotes economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability in the management of CIA activities by performing independent audits, inspections, investigations, and reviews of CIA programs and operations. The current Inspector General is David Buckley.


Director of Public Affairs
The Office of Public Affairs advises the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency on all media, public policy, and employee communications issues relating to his role as CIA director and is the CIA’s principal communications focal point for the media, the general public and Agency employees.


Posted: Apr 05, 2007 02:06 PM
Last Updated: Nov 09, 2012 04:32 PM
Last Reviewed: Dec 30, 2011 12:39 PM

Make a difference in your career. Consider the global employment opportunities at the CIA. We're looking for a diversity of people for the important job of keeping America safe. This includes Clandestine Service Officers to be on the front line of human intelligence. Plus, individuals skilled in science, engineering, technology, analysis, foreign languages and administration for positions in the United States and overseas.



View our available career opportunities or learn about the application process by visiting the following pages:

View All Career Opportunities
Analytical Positions
Business, IT & Security Positions
Clandestine Service Positions
Language Positions
Science, Engineering & Technology
Student Opportunities
Application Process



Posted: May 07, 2007 12:30 PM
Last Updated: Oct 19, 2012 12:35 PM
Last Reviewed: Oct 19, 2012 12:35 PM

Publications
The World Factbook
The World Factbook remains the CIA's most widely disseminated and most popular product; millions of visitors frequent the online Factbook each month. In addition, tens of thousands of government, commercial, academic, and other Web sites link to, or replicate, the online version of the Factbook.

This reference site is updated biweekly throughout the year to provide wide-ranging and hard-to-locate information about the background, geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. Included among the 271 geographic entries is one for the "World," which incorporates data and other information summarized where possible from the other 270 country listings.

World Leaders
The CIA publishes and updates the online directory of Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments regularly. The directory is intended to be used primarily as a reference aid and includes as many governments of the world as is considered practical, some of them not officially recognized by the United States.

Governments are listed in alphabetical order according to the most commonly used version of each country's name. The spelling of the personal names in this directory follows transliteration systems generally agreed upon by US Government agencies, except in the cases in which officials have stated a preference for alternate spellings of their names.

CIA Maps
The Central Intelligence Agency's Maps section contains unclassified maps to download.

Historical Collection Publications
The Historical Review Program, part of the CIA Information Management Services, identifies, collects and produces historically relevant collections of declassified documents. These collections, centered on a theme or event and with supporting analysis, essays, video, audio, and photographs, are showcased in a booklet and DVD that are available to the academic realm and the public.

Additional Publications
Our Additional Publications section features some of our most frequented online publications, including 9.11 Marking the Tenth Anniversary, Devotion to Duty, Memorial Wall Publication, The Work of a Nation, Sites to See , Intelligence in the Civil War, Corona Between the Sun and the Earth, Heroin Movement Worldwide, and In-Q-Tel.



Featured Publications
Directors of Central Intelligence as Leaders of the U.S. Intelligence Community [PDF 3MB*]
Directors and Deputy Directors of the Central Intelligence Agency
Directors and Deputy Directors of Central Intelligence
Intelligence in the War of Independence
Intelligence in the Civil War
Central Intelligence: Origin and Evolution [PDF Only 227KB*]



Posted: Apr 15, 2007 11:37 AM
Last Updated: Jun 28, 2012 12:28 PM
Last Reviewed: Dec 30, 2011 01:35 PM