LETTER TO COMPUTERWORLD MAGAZINE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90G00993R000100170016-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 14, 2012
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: September 19, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/14: CIA-RDP90G00993R000100170016-1
STAT
ADMINISTRATIVE-INTERNAL USE ONLY
OIT 0790-86
f6
RIZLZEll
LOGGED
MEMORANDUM FGR: Director of Central Intelligence
FROM: William F. Donnelly
Deputy Director for Administration
SUBJECT: Letter to Computerworld Magazine
1. Last month Computerworld magazine sent a letter to you
requesting a short, unclassified article describing the use of
computers in the Central Intelligence Agency. The article was
to be included in a special issue along with selected
contributions from major corporations and government agencies.
Action for drafting a direct response was assigned to the DDA,
and a letter was coordinated with Public Affairs and mailed on
29 August 1986.
2. We have been told that the magazine's editorial staff
liked the article, but would like to attribute it to you so
they will have a uniform level of response. They have received
letters from Secretary of Commerce Baldrige and at least one
other agency head. Since we believe publication of the article
will help our recruiting efforts, it is requested that you sign
the attached letter to the Editor in Chief of Computerworld.
3. Copies of the original request and the 29 August
response are attached for your information. This request has
been coordinated with the Office of Public Affairs.
Attachments:
A. Original Request
B. 29 August Response
C. Letter for DCI's Signature
William F. Donnelly
ADMINISTRATIVE-INTERNAL USE ONLY
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/14: CIA-RDP90G00993R000100170016-1
STAT
ADMINISTRATIVE-INTERNAL USE ONLY
SUBJECT:
A
Letter to Computerworld Magazine
MD/OIT (9SEPT86)
Distribution:
Orig - Addressee
1 - ER (w/Atts)
1 - PAO(w/o Atts)
2 - DDA (w/Atts)
1 - D/OIT(w/Atts)
2 - OIT/Registry(w/o Atts)
2 - MD/OIT (w/Atts)
ADMINISTRATIVE-INTERNAL USE ONLY
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/14: CIA-RDP90G00993R000100170016-1
375 Coc.htluate Rood. Box 9171/Framingham. MA 01701-9171/[phone]
August 5, 1986
William J. Cisey
Central Intelligence Ageney
Washington, D.C. 20505
Dear Mr. Casey:
beam
86- 3620X
IAGGI;)
Computerworld, the world's leading computer newspaper, will incorporate within
its pages a special four-color supplement on Nov. 3 to commemorate the 40th
anniversary of Eniac, the first large-scale, electronic digital computer. We
also intend to publish this special supplement separately as a keepsake
edition to be distributed widely.
As a key editorial component, we are soliciting commentary from writers,
scientists, artists, chief executive officers, educators, politicians and
others. We invite your commentary of 50 to 500 words on the attached sheet.
When published, your thoughts will reach 685,000 Computerworld readers. This
commentary can reflect on one or more of the following questions:
1) What role should computers play in society?
2) How do you use computers at work or at hate? - t
3) How have computers changed your life or field?
4) How do you believe computers will change society in the 21st century?
The style of your commentary is up to you, but we welcome anecdotes or
personal experiences.
In this issue, Computerworld will be stepping beyond its normal role as the
weekly newspaper of the information systems industry. Our intention is not to
chronicle Eniac's formal history. We are using Eniac's anniversary as reason
to broadly consider the place of the computer in business and everyday life.
We will depict the use of computers from 40 years ago to now and speculate a
bit about the future. We hope you will join us in this project.
Please call me at 1-800-343-6474, ext. 325, should you have any questions. We
will send you a complimentary copy of the issue on publication. We would
appreciate your response by Sept. 1.
Sincerely,
co
Are-
George Harrar
Features Director
Afxrr,
/lmg
eilDeclassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/14: CIA-RDP90G00993R000100170016-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/14: CIA-RDP90G00993R000100170016-1
COMPUTERWORLD
375 Cochttuate Road, Box 9171/Framingham, MA 01701-9171/[phone]
Please comment below in 50 to 500 words on one or more of the
questions in the cover letter. Feel free to use additional paper as
necessary. Return to George Harrar at the Computerworld address
above. -
I transfer the entire copyright regarding this material to CW
Communications, Inc. I certify that this piece is an original work
and has not been published elsewhere.
Signed
Title
Company (if applicable)
Address
Phone (optional)
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/14: CIA-RDP90G00993R000100170016-1
.o
Mr. George Harrar
Features Director, Computerworld
Framingham, Massachusetts 01701
OIT 0751-86
/ 9 AUG 1986
Dear Mr. Harrar:
Mr. Casey, the Director of Central Intelligence, asked
that I respond to your letter of August 5, 1986, requesting
some commentary for your special issue on November 3. As
_ - c
Director of the office that manages computer use in tti*--Central
Intelligence Agency, I am pleased to submit the enclosed
article. I hope it will be of help to you.
Sincerely,
/5/
Edward J. Maloney
Director
of
Information Technology
Enclosure
STAT MD/OIT1
(28AUG86)
Distribution:
Orig - Addressee
1 - DDA (w/att)
1 - FO/OIT (w/att)
2 - Registry/OIT (lw/att)
2 - MD/OIT (lwiatt)
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STATEMENT OF DIREcTOR, OFFICE OF I4FORMATION TECHNOLOGY
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
I am pleasedto have this opportunity to provide your
readers with a description of the role of computers in the
Central Intelligence Agency. It is particularly appropriate on
this occasion because we at the CIA are preparing to celebrate
our 40th anniversary next year.
As you know, the mission of the Central Intelligence
Agency is to collect and analyze information needed to support
U.S. foreign policy and protect our national security. In
today's complex and dangerous world, the President of the
- c
United States and his advisers require a broad underseiii-ding
of international trends and developments. Such understanding
requires first-class intelligence. Our employees are striving
to maintain the Agency's position as the best intelligence
organization in the world, but without the assistance of
computers, that goal would be very difficult to achieve.
Computers have played an important part in the Agency's
activities since the early 1960s when the first mainframe units
were installed. At first, these computers were used primarily
for administrative tasks such as payroll and inventory, but it
was obvious from the outset that computer technology could
assist the Agency in its principal activity--the collection and
processing of intelligence information. Since those early
days, CIA computer specialists have worked to position the
Agency at the leading edge of information technology and keep
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it there. A major part of their efforts have involved the
design and maintenance of highly sophisticated technical
systems.
As a result, the computer has become an essential tool in
our business. The vast amount of information pouring into the
Agency must be quickly distributed, stored, and retrieved by
numerous individuals. That information must then be analyzed,
often with the support of computer-based methodologies.
Frequently, this analysis deals with crisis situations and must
be completed in a very short time frame. Most importantly, the
results of this analysis must be delivered-quickly to the
responsible policymakers policymakers to help them understand the
???
implications of their policy initiatives and the responses to
those initiatives.
With the computer support now available, CIA officers have
substantial computing power at their fingertips. For example:
--Thousands of cabled messages are automatically screened
every hour and routed to the appropriate officers. The
recipients read, annotate, route, save, and retrieve
these messages in a totally electronic environment.
--A large-scale office automation and electronic mail
system permits nearly instantaneous communications
among Agency personnel.
--Intelligence officers use special CIA-designed software
to manage the Agency's technical and human collection
programs and to process the output of these programs.
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--Military affairs 'analysts and s Acientists use large
mainframe computers to conduct sophisticated simulations
ot modern weapons systems.
--Economists work with advanced econometric models to
forecast the economic performance of key nations.
--Political analysts rely on data management systems to
analyze patterns in terrorist activities, narcotics
trafficking, and the political stability of selected
countries.
--Cartographers and publication specialists have access to
the latest computer systems for designing and producing
maps and charts, as well as ApecAalized-.*raphics.
In the coming years, computers are likely to play an even
more important role in the CIA, enabling intelligence officers
to improve both the quality and efficiency of their work.
Soon, every officer will have a multi-functional high-end
workstation at his or her desk. In the near future, CIA
scientists will be able to call upon the power of
supercomputers to conduct highly complex scientific analyses.
The CIA is also exploring the applicability of artificial
intelligence, optical disk storage technology, robotics, and
other advanced techniques.
We are excited about the future of computer technology and
the unique contribution it makes to national security and the
intelligence profession. Our thanks go out to the talented and
dedicated computer professionals who have made these marvelous
advances possible.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/14: CIA-RDP90G00993R000100170016-1
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STAT
Mr. Terry Catchpole
Editor in Chief
Computerworld
Framingham, Massachusetts
01 701
1 9 SEP 1986
OIT 0787-86
Dear Mr. Catchpole:
In response to the request by your publication for a
contribution from the Central Intelligence Agency for your
special issue of November 3, we submitted a letter on 29 August
to Mr. George Harrar. To provide you with a uniform level of
response from U.S. Government agencies, you may describe that
letter, as it was sent, as a statement of the Director of
Central Intelligence. I hope that it will be of use to you in
your 40th anniversary issue.
MD/OIL
Distribution:
Orig - Addressee
1 - DCI
1 - ER
1 - DDA
1 - PAO
1 - D/OIT
2 - Registry/OIT
1 - MD/Chrono
1 - MD/Subject
Sincerely,
J. Casey
William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
(9SEPT86)
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/14: CIA-RDP90G00993R000100170016-1