ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS SECTION I GENERAL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04007A001000030032-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 25, 1998
• Sequence Number: 32
• Publication Date: June 6, 1947
• Content Type: REGULATION

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Extracts from:
25X1A
(Document in custody of Historical Staff, Documents Officer
203 Key Bldg. Ext. i 3381
(Copy No. 29, of 3O)
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Pg. 2 6 June 1947
S. 0. DIRECTIVE NO. 18
ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE
OFFICE OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS
SECTION I
GENERAL
a. This Directive will not be sent to overseas stations and
missions.
b. This Directive is for the use only of officials of the
Office of Special Operations and of the Office of the
Director of Central Intilligence. With careful editing to
preserve security, the Chief of Administration and Services
will prepare where necessary organization charts and func-
tional job descriptions for presentation to Civil Service
Representatives in order that departmental positions can
be finalized under Civil Service procedures. After prepa-
ration, these organizational charts and functional job
descriptions will be submitted to Chief of Operations and
the Chief of Special Security for concurrence and to the
Assistant Director of Special Operations for approval,
prior to presentation to the Civil Service Representatives.
c. The distribution of this Directive will be as follows
(Recipients of this Directive in the Office of Special
Operations will inform their subordinates of such portions
of this Directive as are essential for them to know in
carrying out their official duties. Under no circumstances
will its contents be revealed to personnel outside the office
of Special Operations without the specific approval of the
Assistant Director in each case.)
1. DISTRIBUTION:
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(Pg. 2 is list of officials to whom copies were given. There were 30 copies.
Copy 1 went to DCI; 8opy 2 to ADSO; Copy 3 to Chief ofLiaison Control; Copy 4
to Chief of Special Security; Copy 5 to Chief of Operations; Copies 6-25 to
various Chiefs of OSO Divisions, S+affs, and Branches; Copy No. 26 to Chairman
of the Reorganization Committee; Copies 27-30 to Executive Secretary.)
Pg. 3 2. RECISSIONS
S.O. Directive No. 7 dated 4 December 1946, Subject: "Organiza-
tion of the Office of Special Operations" is rescinded and its
provisions replaced by this Directive.
5. ORGANIZATION
a. For the organization of the Office of Special Operations see
Enclosure 1.
b. For geographical area responsibilities of Foreign Branches
see Enclosure 2.
4. FUNCTIONS
a. The functions of the Office of Special Operations are as
prescribed in the Memorandum for Assistant Director for Special
Operations from the Director of Central Intelligence, dated
25 October 1946, subject: Functions of the Office of Special
Operations. This memorandum is quoted verbatim as follows:
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"1. The Office of Special Operations *ilthfunction in accordance
with the following policies:
a. The mission of the Office of Special Operations is the
conduct, under the direct supervision of the Director, of all organ-
ized Federal espionage and counterespionage operations outside the
United States and its possessions for the collection of foreign
intelligence information required for the national security. Such
espionage and counterespionage operations may involve semi-overt and
semi-covert activities for the full performance of the mission.
b. The Assistant Director for Special Operations will be
directly responsible to the Director of Central Intelligence for
carrying out the missions assigned him, for the security of opera-
tional material and methods and for the collection of secret foreign
intelligence information required by the Office of Collection and
Dissemination and other user departments and agencies.
c. The. Office of Special Operations will coordinate its
field collection activities with other agencies of the Central
Intelligence Group charged with comparable functions.
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Pg. 4
f. Ordinarily requests for specific information will come
from the State, War, Navy and other departments and agencies through
the Office of Collection and Dissemina ion, where it will be deter-
mined that the Office of Special Operations is the proper agency to
collect the desired information. However, the Office of Special
Operations is authorized to receive directly from user departments
or agencies requests for a specific action or the collection of
specific information when such requests are clearly within the sphere
of activity of the Office of Special Operations and the particular
type of desired information (or action) make such direct contact
necessary for security reasons. Such direct contact will be made
through the Office of Control, Special Operations, and corresponding
offices in the various departments and agencies. The Office of
Special Operations will maintain direct liaison with departments and
agencies of the Federal Government on secret operational matters,
knowledge of which must be restricted to the minimum number of persons.
g.. The Office of Special Operations will be responsible
for the collection, processing, and distribution of foreign counter-
espionage intelligence information and will be the repository for
such information. Intelligence derived from the processing of
foreign counterespionage intelligence information will be made avail-
able to the Office of Research and Evaluation.
*2. Major support services for the Office of Special Operations
will be provided by the Special Projects Division, Personnel and
Administrative Branch of the Executive Staff, Central Intelligence
Group, under the operational direction of the Assistant Director for
Special Operations.
3. In carrying out the policies stated above operational
security requirements will be strictly observed by all concerned".
Pg. *(Notes Reference paragraph 2 - it is contemplated that these
instructions will be revised in the near future to give the Assistant
Director for Special Operations complete control of his major support-
ing services.)
b. Reference paragraph 3 above - the functions of the major
elements of the Office of Special Operations are prescribed in
SECTIONS II, III, AND IV of this Directive.
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Pg. 6 SECTION II
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR SPECIAL OPERATIONS:
The Assistant Director for Special Operations will control,
supervise, and direct the several elements of the Office of
Special Operations so as to implement the assigned functions
of his office in accord with the policies announced in the
Directive of the Director of Central Intelligence quoted in
paragraph 4 above and will conduct or provide for and super-
vise the liaison and coordination of his office with other
offices of the Central Intelligence Group and with other U. S.
departments and agencies in accord with the policies of this
Directive. He will be directly responsible to the Director of
Central Intelligence for the carrying out of the missions assigned
to him and for the functioning of his office in accordance with
the directives and policies of the Director. He will conduct
such field inspections in person as are necessary to insure the
faithful execution of the directives and policies of the Director.
6. THE DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR SPECIAL OPERATIONS
7. EXECUTIVE STAFF:
Pg. 7
a. The Executive Officer:
(1) Acts as the principle staff officer of the Office
of Special Operations.
(2) As directed by the Assistant Director supervises and
coordinates the activities of Liaison Control and
rpeeial Security -.
(3) Coordinates and maintains a record of the inspections
conducted by the Chief of Operations, the Chief of
Administration and Services, and the Chief of Special
Security, and keeps the Assistant Director advised as
to the adequacy of inspections.
t5) Insures that all matters involving more than one of
the major subdivisions, i.e. Operations, Administra-
tion and Services and the Assistant Director Office
(Special Security and Liaison Control) presented to
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the Assistant Director or Deputy Assistant Director
for decision are first coordinated with the interested
officers, that all sides of the matter are adequately
presented, and that all necessary staff action is
complete.
Pg. 8
(5) Acts as Top Secret Control Officer for the Office
of Special Operations.
Maintains control of all OSS/SSU records and handles
all inquiries and correspondence pertaining thereto
a. Shall exercise general supervision over liaison.rairtair.ed
ic. a.cccrdGrce vith this Directive by authorized officers of
the Office of Special Operations with other offices of the
Central Intelligence Group and with the intelligence agencies
of the State, War, and Navy Departments, with the Federal
Bureau of Investigation and, as appropriate, with other
agencies of the Federal Government. In performing this
function:
(3) Maintains a continuing check with Special Security on
the liaison being conducted in order that difficulties
incident to liaison with insecure organizations or
individuals may be avoided.
Pg. 9 9. SPECIAL SECURITY
In accordance with the policies and directives of the Assistant
Director the Chief of Special Security:
b. Executive Secretary:
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8. LIAISON CONTROL:
a. Shall maintain liaison with the appropriate authorities of
CIG, and with other U. S. Government Departments and agencies
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Noof
Pg. 10
b.
d.
f.
Bence with particular attention to the Director's policy that
in connection with matters pertaining to the security of the
Office of Special Operations and shall insure conformity with
overall security policies of the Director of Central Intelli-
by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Shall in coordination with the Personnel Division review Per-
sonal History Statements of applicants for staff positions
prior to the forwarding of Personal History Statements by the
Personnel Division to the appropriate authorities of CIG for
security investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Shall receive final reports of security investigations of 030
staff personnel, evaluate results and make final recommendation
to the Assistant Director for Special Operations with respect
to employment.
Shall be responsible for the investigation and evaluation of
the integrity and loyalty of all OSO personnel on a continuing
basis.
Shall be responsible for the investigation of all covert per-
sonnel being considered for employment by the Office of Special
Operations. For the purposes of security investigation only,
all personnel serving overseas will be considered as covert
personnel. Overseas personnel who may later return to Wash-
ington for assignment to a staff position in the United States,
will at ttat time have a security investigation by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation. In rare instances it may be
necessary to,employ covert personnel
however the personal approval of the Assistant Director 25X1A6a
for Special Operations will be obtained in each case for
any exceptions to the Director's policy as outlined in
subparagraph a above.
Shall be responsible for operational investigations which
may be necessary in support of counterespionage activities.
Shall by appropriate inspections insure h securit of 25X1A6a
personnel and the physical security of
overseas installations, property, and records of the Office
of Special Operations under the general security policies
prescribed by the Director of Central Intelligence and the
Assistant Director for Special Operations.
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h.
k.
Shall maintain a field investigative staff sufficient to
carry out the responsibilities set forth in subparagraphs
d, e, f and g above subject to the continuing approval of
the Assistant Director for Special Operations.
Shall report to the Assistant Director for Special Operations
security violations and recommend appropriate disciplinary or
corrective measures.
Shall be responsible for the maintenance of security files
on all personal of the Office of Special Operations to in-
clude both active and inactive files as well as the files of
predecessor organizations now in the possession of the
Office of Special Operations.
Shall interview and indoctrinate new employees, overseas
returnees, couriers, overseas departees, and all personnel
in the process of terminating employment with Special Opera-
tions regarding security requirements and related matters.
Shall consult with and be consulted by the various eomponents
of the Office of Special Operations on security aspects of all
activities and personnel.
Shall coordinate all overseas inspections with the Executive
Officer, Office of Special Operations.
n. Shall review all contemplated transfers of personnel from
Special Operations to other units of the Central Intelligence
Group, from other units.^of the Central Intelligence Group to
Special Operations, from one theatre to another, and between
components of the Office of Special Operations and give
security clearance prior to implementation of such transfers.
Pg. 11 0. Will inform Liaison Control of current liaison with
other offices of CIG and with agencies or individuals
outside CIG, and of any new liaison established in the
future.
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When directed by the Assistant Director for Special
Operations perform certain services for the remainder
of GIG.
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Pg. 12 SECTION III
OPERATIONS
10. THE CHIEF OF OPERATIONS
In accordance with the directives and policies of the Assistant
Director, the Chief of Operations shall direct and supervise
all espionage and counterespionage operations outside the U. S.
and its possessions for the collection of foreign intelligence
information required for the national security. In carrying
out this responsibility he will:
b.
Coordinate, direct, and supervise all activities of the
Foreign Branches and the staff sections under his control.
Require that Chiefs of Foreign Branches and Staff Sections
inform him or his appropriate deputy of directives and
decisions received by them directly from the office of the
Assistant Director for Special Operations.
c. Control, direct, supervise and coordinate the authorized
liaison of the Foreign Branches and his staff sections with
other elements of OSO, Offices of the Central Intelligence
Group and other U. S. departments and agencies maintaining
or providing for direct liaison with U. S. departments and
agencies on secret operational matters, the knowledge of
which must be restricted to the minimum number of persons.
f. Provide for the security of operational material and methods.
Pg. 13 o. Provide for the conduct of inspections of overseas opera-
tional activities, and of the local activities pertaining
to his office.
11. DEPUTY CHIEF OF OPERATIONS FOR COUNTERESPIONAGE
A# In General:
P&. lb b. In particulars
(1) Shall be directly responsible for the reception,
processing and controlling the use of special and
critical counterespionage materials originating in
other U. S. departments and agencies.
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(2) Shall baintain or direct and control the liaison
with security and counterintelligence activities of
U. S. departments and agencies for matters pertain-
ing to counterespionage.
(10) Shall review, and wherever appropriate make recom-
mendations concerning assistance of OSO in security
matters to other U. S. departments and agencies,
notably State Department (visa and passport control).
(11) Shall be responsible for the coordination and
where appropriate the preparation of instructions
and procedures for the security of operational
materials and methods in the field, and for seeing
that such instructions and procedures are complied
with.
12. DEPUTY CHIEF OF OPERATIONS FOR PLANS AND PROJECTS
Pg. 17 1'> . TRAINING STAFF
. . . .
. .
.
Pg. 18
14.
THE INFORMATION CONTROL STAFF
Pg. 20
15.
SPECIAL EQUIBMENT STAFF
The Chief of the Special Equipment Staff:
a. In General:
Shall be responsible to the Office of the Chief of Opera-
tions that special equipment and devices are developed
and supplied in such manner as to support adequately
present and planned operational activities.
b. In Particular:
Pg. 21 16. THE TECHNOLOGICAL STAFF
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The Chief of the Technological Staff:
a. In General:
Under the direction of the Chief of Operations or his
appropriate Deputy, shall advise the Operations Staff
and Foreign Branches on all matters pertaining to the
collection and dissemination of intelligence information
of a scientific and technological nature.
Pg. 23 17. MISCELLANEOUS OPERATIONS STAFF:
The Chief, Miscellaneous Operations Staff:
Under the direction of the Deputy Chief of Operations for
Plans and Projects, shall control and supervise such opera-
tions as the Chief of Operations may assign which do not
lend themselves to control by any one Foreign Branch because
of their scope.
18. FOREIGN BRANCH CHIEFS
b. In Particular:
(20) To maintain proper security of field operations,
enforce approved policies and procedures. This
will include arrangemahts for vatting, security
check or investigations of all personnel other
than staff to be used by his Branch.
Pg. 29
SECTION IV
ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICES
19. a. CHIEF, ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICES
a. In accordance with the directives and policies of the Assistant
Director, the Chief of Administration and Services shall so
direct and supervise all management, administration, personnel,
and services to support the activities of the Office of Special
Operations and perform when directed by the Assistant Director
certain services for the remainder of CIG. In carrying out
this responsibility he shall:
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(6) In coordination with the Chief of Special Security,
provide for the security of operational material and
methods in connection with administration and services.
Pg. 3O
20.
PERSONNEL DIVISION
Pg. 32
21.
TRANSPORTATION AND SUPPLY DIVISION
Pg. 33
22.
SPECIAL FUNDS DIVISION
Pg. 35
23.
REGISTRY DIVISION
The Chief of the Registry Divisiont
b. In Particular
Pg. 36
(9) In coordination with the Chief of Special Security, shall
provide for the security of all classified material in
his division.
. . .
24. COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
The Chief of the Communications Division:
Pg. 37
(5)
Shall provide for the security of all communications
facilities under his control.
(6) Shall provide for the security of all code and cipher
messages.
Pg. 38 25. COVER AND DOCUMENTATION DIVISION
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Pg. 39 (5) Shall provide for the security of all cover and
documentation f!icilities, activities, and equipment
under his control.
Pg. 40 SECTION V
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REORGANIZATION
26. OBJECTIVES
This directive is designed to provide an organization capable
of effective teamwork with clean-cut lines of authority and
specific designation of res-oonsibility. Also it is intended
to emphasize the principle that the conduct of operation to
carry out our assigned missions is of primary importance and
that all elements of the organization can justify their
existence only if they conduct operations or render essential
and effective support to the conduct of operations.
27. MAJOR CHANGES
The major changes area
Pg. 41 m. The Special Security Section is redesignated Special Security
and will be directly responsible to the Assistant Director
for Special Operations.
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n. Control is redesignated as Liaison Control and its functions
redefined to give the Chief of Operations and the Chief of
Administration and Services more responsibility for liaison
under the overall supervision of Liaison Control, also the
responsibility for coordinating inspections is transferred
to the Executive OSO and the responsibility for conducting
inspections to the Chief of Operations, Chief of Administra-
tion and Services, and Chief of Security.
Pg. 42 q. Projects Support Division will be abolished and its elements
will become Administrative and Services Division under direct
control of the Office of Special Operations. (A directive
from the Director of Central Intelligence will be issued
shortly specifying this change. The functions of the Admini-
strative and Services Divisions as presented in 30.0. Directive
No. 18 will be subject to minor refinements or changes as the
final details of implementations are worked out at operating
level.)
28. PERSONNEL
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29. PLAN FOR REORGANIZATION
a. A committee is appointed to supervise and direct the reorganiza-
Pg. 43
Reference Enclosure 1 listing the major components of the
new organization, the Chief of Operations for his office
and for branches and staffs under his control, the Chief of
Administration and Services for his office and for Divisions
under his control, and the Executive OSO for the Assistant
Directors Office and for Liaison Control and Special Security
will submit on or before noon 11 June 1947 to the Chairman n
of the Reorganization Committee at Room 225 Administration
Building, the following for each of their componentss
(1) An organization chart showing the detailed interior
organization of each component.
In planning personnel for new components it is con-
templated that personnel of the following will general
remain assigned to their present units.
Assistant Director's Office
Chief of Operations Office
Central European Branch
Southeastern European Branch
Far East Branch
Latigln America Branch
(2)
In planning recommended personnel allocations under
subparagraph a (4) above, Chiefs of new components should
consider that personnel of old components will be generally
available to the new components according to the followings
Control to Liaison Control
Special Security Section to Special Security
Plans OSO to Deputy Chief of Operations for
Plans and Projects
Training Branch to Training Staff
Source Control Branch to Information Control
Staff and Foreign Branches (reports
personnel to Foreign Branches)
Pg. 45
Assistant Director
Special Operations
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