NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR NO. 33

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP05S00620R000601400029-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 5, 2009
• Sequence Number: 29
• Publication Date: October 26, 1978
• Content Type: MISC

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Notes from the Director No. 33
26 October 1978
STAT
COMPARTMENTATION AND SECURITY
Among the impressive achievements of the Intelligence Community in the years
since 1947 have been the development of a variety of collection systems, which have
made and are making invaluable contributions to our national security. The
protection of these extremely sensitive and critical collection programs led to the
establishment of compartmentation and codeword systems designed to limit access to
their product to those small numbers with a legitimate and demonstrable need to
know. As the Community grew and our sensitive collection capabilities expanded, the
variety of compartments and codewords proliferated and the numbers of individuals
cleared for special access to these compartments reached unmanageable levels.
During recent discussions, I and senior officers of the Intelligence Community
expressed our concern about the compartmentation systems and the procedures used
to implement them. We questioned whether the existing systems adequately protect
our most sensitive sources and whether they permit the dissemination of vital
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intelligence to those who truly need to know. We agreed that it was high time for a
thorough and objective review designed to simplify our compartmentation systems
and still maintain adequate security.
an officer with a long and distinguished
career in the military and the policy making arenas of Government, agreed to
undertake this study. Under his chairmanship a Working Group with representatives
from State, ONI, OSD, SAFSS, NSA, DIA, and CIA have produced a report
presenting a new concept for compartmentation and codeword systems. In my view,
this new concept holds considerable promise for the development of a more effective
and manageable compartmentation system. has briefed other senior
members of the Community on the concept and reports that it is being favorably
received.
The process of moving from a concept to an effective and workable plan in such
highly sensitive areas will be extremely complex and will require the unstinting
cooperation of all members of the Intelligence Community. I have asked
to move from his position as an Associate Director of NFAC and to take up new
duties on my staff as a Special Assistant to work exclusively on the development of
procedures and programs for the implementation of a new system of compartmen-
tation. Ihave also asked him, as my personal representative, to serve as Chairman of
an interagency working group established to carry out the recommendations in the
Vogt Report.
STANSFIELD TURNER
Director
STAT
STAT
STAT
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