THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COUNCIL: RESPONSIBILITIES AND MAKEUP

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP93T01132R000100030011-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 22, 2012
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: July 24, 1986
• Content Type: REPORT

I
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP93T01132R000100030011-9
The Director of Central Intelligence
Wuhingwn, D.C. 20505
National Intelligence Council
The National Intelligence Council:
Responsibilities and Makeup
24 July 1986
1. The National Intelligence Council (NIC) is that function of the
Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) which produces the Intelligence
Community's National Intelligence Estimates and performs numerous other
national estimating responsibilities for and on behalf of the DCI.
2. Organizationally the NIC is part of the DCI's office, and
reports directly to the DCI--in his capacity as Chairman of the
Intelligence Community, not as Director of the CIA.
3. Formed in 1979-1980, the NIC is the direct descendant of the
Office of National Estimates (established 1950), and of the later
National Intelligence Officers (established 1973). The NIC was formed
to combine the best features of these previous organizational
arrangements: i.e., close contact with the policymaking community,
authoritative judgment, independence of thought, collegial review and
responsibility, substantive strength, writing and briefing skills, elite
status, and ready access to the DCI and top policymakers.
4. At present the NIC totals officers: that is, a Chairman
(C/NIC); one Vice Chairman (VC/NIC), NIOs; Assistant NIOs (A/NIOs);
Analytic Group (AG); and administrative, clerical, and support
officers. Two chief purposes of the NIC are to be broadly
representative and to be infused regularly with new blood--hence (a) the
NIOs, the A/NIOs, the AG officers are drawn from various walks of life:
e.g., the uniformed military, DoD, State, NSA, CIA (analysis), CIA
(operations), outside think-tanks, academia, and the private sector; and
(b) for the most part these officers serve 2-3 year tours of duty,
rotating in and out from other assignments.
-- There are 15 NIOs: USSR, East Asia, Near East and South Asia,
Africa, a in erica, Europe, Counter-Terrorism, Nuclear-BW-CW
Proliferation, Warning, Science and Technology, Economics,
Strategic Programs, General Purpose Forces, Narcotics, and
Foreign Denial and Intelligence Activities. They are all of
flag/command rank or civilian equivalent.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP93TO1132R000100030011-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP93T01132R000100030011-9
SECRET
Each of these NIOs has at least one A/NIO; certain NIOs have
two: NESA, Proliferation, SP, GPF; and two NIOs have more than
two A/NIOs: CT and FDIA. The A/NIOs are for the most part alter
egos for the NIOs, sharing in the latter's responsibilities
(discussed below). A/NIOs vary in rank from major to brigadier
and civilian equivalent.
The AG's officers are thinker-writers of broad experience and
background, who especially (a) ra s and other estimative
materials that are broad in compass or span regions/disciplines;
(b) do quality control and repair drafting on those ailing texts
the NIC occasionally receives from drafters elsewhere in the
Intelligence Community; and (c) sit in as acting A/NIOs when
such need arises. AG officers vary in rank from major to
brigadier and civilian equivalent.
The remaining NIC officers: Production Officer (PO/NIC), GS-13,
w o manages and tracks the complex system of working several
dozen estimates simultaneously through varying stages of the
cumbersome inter-agency coordination system--and who has of late
been also serving as a de facto executive; an Administrative
Officer, GS-14, and an assistant Admin officer; and 19
secretaries. We also have 12 etc. professionals and one
secretary aboard who are on free loan from elsewhere, serving at
no cost to the NIC.
5. Quality control of the NIC's products is exercised in various
ways and at various evels: by e s and /AU; by the VC/NIC and
C/NIC; and by the DCI's Senior Review Panel (a small group of retired
Ambassadors and generals who--as part of their broader service to the
DCI--critique the NIC's estimates in draft). In addition, many NIC
products are reviewed by outside experts, either individually or in
panels. The latter includes the Military Advisory Panel*, which meets
quarterly with the NIC.
B. Responsibilities of the NIOs. Even though each NIO portfolio
dif ers in its particular dimensions and mission, and each successive
individual in the same NIO job will define it somewhat differently,
each NIO nonetheless has the following general responsibilities:
(1) Serves as the DCI's principal staff officer for the particular
field, for the entire Intelligence Lommunity. is
encompasses substantive matters (estimates and analysis). The
NIOs are consumers of CIA/DO (clandestine service) products and
work closely with DO officers, certain of the NIC NIO portfolios
very closely, but the NIOs have no direct clandestine
operational responsibilities.
2
SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP93T01132R000100030011-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP93TO1132R000100030011-9
SECRET
(2) Integrate Intelligence Community and CIA action on all issues
related to the N s particular field, and serve as t e primary
point of contact on those issues for senior officers of the
Policy Community.
(3) Chair the NIEs, have the principal substantive call on just what
judgments these estimates should make, and recommen to the UU1
what estimative positions he should take. These particular
responsibilities entail Insuring at (a) all Intelligence
Community and US Government equities are included; (b) differing
or dissenting judgments are fully represented and registered;
(c) independence of inquiry and judgment are fiercely
maintained; and (d) finished products conform fully to DCI
authority and responsibility for the production of national
estimates.
(4) Field tasking chores levied by the DCI, the DDCI, and C/NIC --
where necessary calling on, brokering, and exercising quality
control over the Intelligence Community's entire resources and
personnel.
(5) Serve as the personal representative of the DCI to top officers
of the o cy and Intelligence Communities. For the most part
this takes the form of sitting as the DCI (Intelligence
Community) representative and spokesman at various levels of
inter-agency policy forums, up to and including the NSC.
(6) Maintain close personal relationships with top olic akers in
the s particular fie , insuring that the NIC will
according y address Issues that are policy-relevant, timely, and
in proper context and format.
(7) Prepare and direct the preparation of s ecial memos/briefin s
for the DW, an senior Policy o icers: e.g., ad hoc
memos, think pieces, sensitive items, questioning of
conventional wisdom, etc. The NIO does not wait to be so
tasked, but himself/herself initiates such items.
(8) Brief senior policeakers (up to and including the President)
and irec y assis a DCI and DDCI in their briefings of top
US Government officials on questions of key substantive
importance for the security of the US.
(9) Chair regular inter-agency meetings to identify issues that
could significantly impact on national security, develop
guidance to intelligence collectors on those issues, and
initiate action to warn policy officers and force planners of
potential new problems or opportunities.
(10) Represent the DCI at selected outside events: e.g., at
international con erences, before expert academic and private
sector consultants, as a public spokesman, and before audiences
at professional military schools and seminars conducted by
various agencies of the US Government and Intelligence Community.
3
SECRET
I Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP93TO1132R000100030011-9 "T
 i
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP93TO1132R000100030011-9
SECRET
(11) Initiate and maintain active contact within the US with the best
available talent external to the USG in the private sector.
(12) Initiate and maintain contact abroad with the best available
foreign talent: overnmen riendly governments, and (as
feasible) private sector.
(13) In effect recruit the DCI: that is, establish such personal
rapport with the DCI as will enhance the impact on him of the
NIO's judgments.
4
SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP93TO1132R000100030011-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP93TO1132R000100030011-9
I. National Intelligence Estimates and Special National Intelligence
Estimates
National Intelligence Estimates (NIEs) and Special National Intelligence
Estimates (SNIEs) treat national security issues and foreign policy problems
of fundamental importance to the United States. Both are fully coordinated
within the Intelligence Community and are issued by the Director of Central
Intelligence with the concurrence of members of the National Foreign
Intelligence Board (NFIB). SNIEs are produced in less time than NIEs, are
shorter and more focused, and generally address time-sensitive policy-related
issues. NIEs may be printed in two or more volumes, with Volume I containing
the Key Judgments and the succeeding volumes providing discussion and
necessary annexes. NIEs and SNIEs conclude with a list of intelligence
indicators of potential change and a brief bibliography of relevant
Intelligence Community publications.
II. Interagency Intelligence Memoranda
Interagency Intelligence Memoranda (IIM) are analytical or estimative
papers of varying length produced by the NIC with full NFIB participation at
the working level. They may be approved for publicatin by C/NIC or presented
at NFIB. IIMs address topics that are more detailed and focused than the
subjects of NIEs and SNIEs, and are of less than immediate concern to
policymakers.
III. Interagency Intelligence Assessments
Interagency Intelligence Assessments (IIAs) are short estimates produced
quickly when a more formal paper is inappropriate, e.g., sensitive source
materials, potentially limited distribution. Assessments may be reviewed by
the SRP and/or other agencies. All must be reviewed and approved by the
VCs/NIC and the C/NIC prior to publication.
IV. NIC Memoranda
NIC Memoranda (NIC/Ms) are informal assessments produced by the NIC with
little or no external participation or coordination. Topics must be approved
by VC/NIC (HM), VC/NIC (CW), and C/NIC. NIC/Ms may be drafted by officers of
other Community agencies of NIC Analytic Group -- working alone or in
collaboration with DDI colleagues -- under the direction of an Assistant NIO
or the Director of the Analytic Group. Papers may be reviewed by the SRP
and/or other agencies. All must be reviewed and approved by VCs/NIC, C/NIC,
and the DCI prior to publication.
V. Fast-Track Procedures
SNIEs may be produced within one to two weeks under "Fast-Track"
procedures by compressing, or simplifying, several of the steps involved in
the production process with the approval of VC/NIC (HM):
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23_ CIA-RDP93TO1132R000100030011-9 ,_
 I
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP93T01132R000100030011-9
draft TORs/CP may be circulated internally and externally at the same
time, and external coordination may be accomplished by secure phone
rather than at a formal interagency meeting.
the draft may be distributed internally to the SRP, DCI, and to the
NFIB representatives simultaneously. At this stage, the Project
Chairman contacts NIC Production Officer to request a computer-
generated dissemination list, secures ORCON release from DDO/PCS,
approves the diseemination list, and returns it to the NIC Production
Officer.
the draft may be coordinated within a day or two of external
distribution;. a brief SNIE may also be distributed to representatives
via LDX and coordinated by secure telephone.
Project Chairman may suggest that the DCI request a telephone vote by
NFIB members. If the DCI agrees, the Project Chairman and VC/NIC (HM)
arrange for the vote by Executive Secretary, NFIB.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP93T01132R000100030011-9