ITEK CORPORATION (RELEASE OF SENSITIVE PROJECT INFORMATION)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP76B00734R000100140008-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 5, 2004
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: January 1, 1963
• Content Type: MF

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MEMORANDUM FOR: Executive Officer, DD/S&T
SUBJECT Itek Corporation
(Release of Sensitive Project Information)
1. This memorandum has been prepared by the Chief,
Security Staff, OSA, in accordance with your request of
this date.
2. Mr. Walt Levison, Itek Vice-President, advised
on this date that recognizing established security restraints,
Itek has not and does not intend to advertise the C Triple
Prime camera commercially. With the prior approval of OSA,
CIA, and the NRO, the utilization of the C Triple techniques
have been discussed with CORONA/IDEALIST cleared individuals
in the Air Force in anticipation of possible employment in
aircraft other than the U-2 (e.g., See Tab A).
3. Project security rules require that contractors
clear beforehand with CIA Security, proposed releases if
the release in any way touches upon Project activities.
In this regard in a publication issued in July 1963, "Inter-
national Science and Technology", Itek did release informa-
tion without the prior clearance to which we took exception.
Itek was strongly rebuked, and they assured us that they
would take every effort to preclude a recurrence. (See Tab,
B.)
4. As noted in Tab B. above, as a consequence of the
unauthorized reference to sensitive Project information in
July 1963, the President of Itek was informed by cable that
"Itek's recent history of program security infractions
approaches breach of contract. Further violations can not
be tolerated." Itek then besought guidance from CIA as to
just what they could say in their advertising since over
seventy-five per cent of the business of Itek is with the
government in connection with these ultra-sensitive covert
projects.
NRO review(s) completed.
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5. On 14 Ai~wust 19 alter Levison, Vice-Presi-
dent of Itek and Administrative Assistant
to the President, visited this Headquarters. At a meeting
on that date (see Tab C.), the Itek officials explained at
considerable length that' it is extremely difficult for
the corporation to say anything about its achievements due
to its extremely heavy involvement in special project acti-
vities. During the meeting Itek was authorized to fabricate
one 24" F3.5 Petzval lens at their own expense and surface
it as a "shelf item" developed at their own initiative under
their In-house Research and Development Program. After the
meeting directed a memorandum to the Chief,
Security , U;JA, wnerein he restated Itek's understanding
of what they were authorized to do in this regard. (See
Tab D.) This 24" lens is the lens employed in the C Triple
Prime camera. It may be worthy of note that essentially
this same lens was employed in an Air Force balloon project
during the late 1950s. It is further our understanding that
several of these lenses due to balloon failure came into
the possession of the Soviets. It is further our under-
standing that it would not be unusual in the optics business
for a company in its research and development programs to
develop a lens of this size. (The most sensitive security
aspects, of course, would be the number of such lenses
manufactured in the past, any indication of the fact that
the lens had been flight proven and further the nature of
the system in which the lens has been employed. This informa-
tion can not be released.)
6. Another instance which might be construed as a
violation by Itek of its responsibility not to advertise
sensitive information pertaining to Project matters could
be the recently issued year-end report to its stockholders.
In particular the second paragraph of the first page of
this report refers to the 24" lens. (See Tab E.) A draft
copy of this report to the stockholders was provided to CIA
for review prior to its release. In fact the Special Secu-
rity Center, Office of Security, took exception to this
specific paragraph. The objection was communicated to
Itek at the time the report was in the galley proof stage
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(4) Is the release revealing? If so, what harm?
a. In our opinion the release discussed herein
is not revealing of sensitive Project information.
(5) Who and why did we authorize it?
a. Paragraph 5 above describes why Itek was
authorized to refer to a 24" lens as a shelf item.
(6) Do we need to put a stop to this specific
release?
a. In our opinion such a stop is not neces-
sary. We should continue and possibly more stren-
uously make every effort to preclude Itek from
including in overt publications any tie-in with
satellite photography regardless of their intent
to refer to future developments under the NASA
lunar program, etc., (unless, of course, Itek is
authorized later to publicize its participation
in Such a white program).
(7) Do we need revision of our basic security
considerations?
a. There is always room for constant revision
of our basic security considerations in view of
the dynamic nature of these programs.
'p-MiVIZO A. L' A Deputy Ass stant D r dtor '
OSA
Attachments, as stated
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