NRO STAFF FUNCTIONS OF THE JCS JOINT RECONNAISSANCE CENTER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP72R00410R000200110029-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 19, 2003
• Sequence Number: 29
• Publication Date: June 3, 1963
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
WASHINGTON
MEMORANDUM FOR The Deputy Director, NRO
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JUN 1963
SUBJECT: NRO Staff Functions of the JCS Joint Reconnaissance
Center
References:
a. DNRO 22 April 63 memo for Deputy
subject: NRO Aircraft Operations 25X1A
b. Deputy DNRO 29 April 63 memo for DNRO,
subject: NRO Aircraft Operationsi 25X1 A
I have considered your views and suggestions outlined in
reference b, and am happy that you feel reference a has clarified
and satisfactorily explained the position of the CIA in the proposed
establishment of an aircraft operations office within the NRO Staff.
However, in regard to your concern that the basic proposal is
cumbersome and involves fundamental management weaknesses, I
feel that one essential point should be emphasized further. The
proposed capability is strictly and solely an over-all NRO staff
function; it is not intended to serve as a line function or to replace
the staff functions of line elements within the NRO. Consequently,
as I pointed out in reference a, the proposed arrangement will not
affect the responsibilities presently carried out by the Director,
NRO Program B. Furthermore, since the JRC duties for the NRO
are staff, rather than line, duties, and since these duties will be
defined, the responsibility of the Chairman of the JRC will be clear:
he will be responsible to the Director, NRO, for his specified NRO
staff duties, and to the JCS for his specified JCS duties. Neither he
nor I anticipate any particular difficulties on this point.
Your alternate proposal of a Director, NRO Program E would
insert a line organization into the Joint Staff, which, at best, would
be extremely awkward, and not at all responsive to the problem.
The line elements associated with NRO aircraft reconnaissance are
satisfactorily organized within the DOD and the CIA, including the
staffs of these line elements. The present problem is to establish an
over-all NRO staff for the Director, NRO. 25X1 A
JCS and NRO review(s) completed.
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I enclose a copy of the response of the Secretary of Defense
to the views and recommendations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on this
subject. As stated in paragraph b, the Secretary requests final
JCS/Director, NRO concurrence by June 10, 1963. I should like to
have any further comments you may wish to make as soon as possible
in order that I may conclude discussions with the Chiefs before that
date.
Brockway
Director
cMillan
National Reconnaissance Office
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1 Atrh
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ac mensI&II
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THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON
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MEMORANDUM FOR The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff-
The Director, National Reconnaissance Office (S)
SUBJECT: Operational Aspects of the National Reconnaissance
Office (NRO) (S)
Reference: C/JCS memo to Sec Def, subject as above, dated
2 May 63 (file CM 542-63).
I have reviewed the above referenced memorandum and have
reached the following conclusions.
a. I agree in principle with the organizational arrange-
ment recommended by the Director, National Reconnaissance
Office, and concurred in by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
b. Final agreement on this organizational arrangement
is contingent upon JCS/Director, NRO concurrence in the explicit
additional duties to be performed by the JRC in this connection.
Accordingly, I am transmitting as Attachment I the Terms of
Reference for these additional JRC duties. I understand these Terms
of Reference are acceptable to the parties concerned.. I am also
transmitting as Attachment II, for any further JCS comments, a
delineation of proposed additional functions and responsibilities of
the SRC, compatible with the Terms of Reference, which would
also form the basis. for modification'of the JRC charter. I should,
like to be informed of final JCS/Director, NRO concurrence on
these matters by June 10, 1963.
c. I agree with the specific recommendation of the
Director, NRO, concurred in by the Chiefs, that NRO responsibility
for . ir_Aaft overflights will shift to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in
periods of tension. Such shifts of responsibility will be submitted
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d. I do not concur in the JCS proposal that R&D respon-
sibilities for satellite reconnaissance systems to be used in central
or limited war be assigned to the military Services. It is my
present view that responsibility for reconnaissance satellite R&D
and operation should remain as assigned in the National Recon-
naissance Office, and that adequate mechanisms exist to promulgate
the 'development of such systems for potential employment through
National Reconnaissance Office channels.
e. I request that the JCS by June 24, 1963, inform the
Director, National Reconnaissance Office of any established and
approved R&D requirements for realistic employment of satellites
for reconnaissance in central and limited wars which, in the opinion
of the JCS, are yet to be fulfilled or, would require different implemen-
tation.
2 Attachments
I - Terms of Reference
NRO/JCS Aircraft
II - Proposed Additional
Duties of JRC
25X1A.
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TERMS OF REFERENCE.
FOR
NRO/JCS AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS CENTER
25X1A
1. Problem:
To define organizational arrangements, functions, responsibilities,
work flow and coordination procedures, such that the mutual responsi-
bilities of the Director, National Reconnaissance Office, and the JCS for
management and performance of aircraft'flight over denied areas for
reconnaissance purposes can best be satisfied, considering situations
of both cold war and militarily; more active situations.
In what follows, the term NRO implicitly recognizes that the CIA
functions and operations in support of the NRO are under the control of
the Director, NRO, including the preparation and submission of plans
for aircraft or other' vehicle overflights, although such CIA functions are
explicitly discussed in several places.
2. Terms of Reference:
a. The NRO/CIA OpCen and the JCS/JRC are currently performing
denied area aircraft overflight operations.
b. NRO/CIA. missions now, and increasingly in the future, will
require commitment of resources and capabilities under JCS direction,
specific or implicit.
c. The totality of missions under way or under active considera-
tion (satellite overflight reconnaissance, peripheral aircraft, corridor
or special mission aircraft, aircraft overflight, and overflight by special
vehicles -- e. g. , balloons, drones, etc.) and the level of hostilities or
military-: action under way at any time (cold war, periods of tension with
possible or explicit military action, or some form of actual war) require
that precise arrangements be formulated to ensure that all planned or
proposed missions are compatible, that necessary resources and
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capabilities be made available, and that a focal point for coordination
of the entire array of missions exists to ensure that all necessary
missions are performed with the greatest possible dispatch.;
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d. The Special Group will continue to review and authorize all
peacetime peripheral and overflight reconnaissance operations and other
sensitive reconnaissance operations which fall within the scope of this
charter. Should any missions be contemplated which are not normally so
reviewed, it will be the responsibility of the parties in this charter
arrangement to ensure non-interference of missions, lacking specific
instructions to the contrary.
e. Reconnaissance mission planning will be in response to re-
quirements validated by appropriate authority (such authority includes
,Secretary of Defense, USIB, JCS, and may include in special instances,
by concurrence, Unified and Specified Commands, DIA and NSA) or in
response to special request of appropriate authority.
f. Specific and detailed planning for reconnaissance mission
support and operations, which also specifies mission control, will
generally be conducted according to the following "normal partitioning."
JCS -- Peripheral flights, corridor flights, special missions,
aircraft overflight missions anywhere in times of active military hosti-
lities (as defined by the Secretary of Defense or higher authority) using
inventory military resources, and/or other missions specifically re-
quested or approved by the Secretary of Defense, or Special Group,
whether or not requiring third party arrangements.
NRO -- All reconnaissance overflights over denied areas and
other! specifically designated areas, in particular overflights during
relatively normal times or requiring highly sensitive third party arrange-
ments. The Director, NRO will assign responsibility for preparation of
aircraft overflight plans, for mission support, and for execution of
approved missions to the CIA when appropriate to the vehicle and mode
of operation to be employed.
Contingency plans will be prepared by JCS and NRO as re-
quired by, the authorities listed in paragraph e. , above, and following
normal partitioning unless otherwise instructed (see para g., below).
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g. This "normal partitioning" can be perturbed by the Secretary
of Defense (with the concurrence of the DCI in matters requiring joint
Secretary of Defense/DCI agreement) or other higher authority to
accommodate new or special situations. In particular, the ecretary
of Defense or other higher authority may request either JCS or NRO
to prepare plans for special situations or operations, and may request
a transfer of mission control.
h. A joint operational entity is necessary to ensure complete
and comprehensive planning and coordination. This is obtained through
an expanded JRC which concurrently serves the operational needs of the
NRO and JCS.
i. In accordance with the normal mission partitioning of f., res-
ponsibility for preparation of final mission execute orders and release
will be assumed by the JCS for missions under their control, and by the
Director, NRO for all operations under his control, including both CIA
and DOD aircraft missions.
j. Under the terms of this arrangement the JRC functions and'
responsibilities will be enlarged, and appropriate additional officers
brought in, to handle additional NRO duties as prescribed later, while
maintaining current JRC functions and responsibilities.
In the /performance of these several duties the JRC will be used
as a directly integrated organizational entity by both JCS and NRO,
reporting directly to these groups. Because of his several responsibilities
under this arrangement, the Chairman, JRC, will be selected by the JCS
with the concurrence of the Director, NRO.
. Staffing and Location
a. The Chairman of the JRC also will serve as Deputy for
Operations, NRO Staff.
b. In his capacity as Deputy for Operations, NRO Staff, and in
accordance with, and limited by, the instructions of the Director, NRO,
the Chairman of the JRC will manage the NRO/Aircraft Operations Center
(AOC), and supervise the NRO/Satellite Operations Center (SOC).
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c. The NRO/AOC may be augmented by personnel presently
assigned to the CIA Operations Office and other appropriate organizations
within DOD, by joint agreement.
to provide for maximum use of communications and other facilities, and
d. The NRO/AOC will be physically located within the Pentagon,
to afford maximum ease of contact with JRC, situation rooms, etc.
 Under the arrangement specified, the Deputy for Operations, NRO
Staff, also will be Chief of the Joint Reconnaissance Center. He will
use the JRC operations staff augmented as indicated to perform the
following duties. The present charter of the JRC will be modified
accordingly to reflect these additional duties pertaining to NRO and JCS
responsibilities.
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PROPOSED
ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF THE JRC
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a. Additional Duties for NRO.
As directed by the Director, NRO, in accordance with
policies established by him and unless specifically assigned otherwise:
(1) Assign and/or review overflight mission planning in
response to validated USIB or other appropriate authority request, and
evaluate and modify if necessary operational plans based on analysis
of mission requirements, programming option desired, logistic, weather,
:lighting condition, and readiness factors, schedules for operation, and
;performance capabilities of collection devices.
(2) From these plans, and in conjunction with appropriate
organizations/agencies, define specific mission peculiar support required,
if any (e.g., stand-downs, diversions, rescue and emergency provisions,
tracking, communications, recovery and logistics).
(3) Prepare, and issue, upon approval, appropriate execute
commands and orders for final mission commitment and recovery to
Unified and Specified Commands, military Services, and NRO/CIA.
(4) Present plan for approval of total mission to higher
authority as required.
(5) Establish mission and status reporting procedures for
use by designated officials; follow progress of all NRO missions and keep'
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the Director, NRO and other designated officials informed of mission
progress, difficulties, and results.
(6) Prepare and review consolidated forecast of future NRO
missions, and status of planning for these, for appropriate and designated
governmental groups.
(7) Prepare and transmit to the JCS forecasts of missions
and plans therefor, with sufficient lead-times for review.
(8) Prepare and transmit to the JCS requests for support as
appropriate with sufficient lead-times for review.
(9) Analyze, evaluate, deliver to appropriate agencies for
further intelligence exploitation, and disseminate, mission performance
results, and degree of achievement of programmed objectives.
(10) Develop appropriate cover and unplanned abort arrange-
ments in coordination with appropriate agencies.
(11) Perform special studies as assigned in areas of future
:requirements, additional programs, transfer of control of resources
under various contingencies, etc., for review and approval.
(12) Provide a focal point for translation of DIA-USIB
intelligence, mapping and geodesy collection requirements into mission
specifications.
(13) Specify targets to be covered by satellite missions from
among assigned target lists, prepared by USIB(COMOR), translating
validated requirements into desired on-orbit target program options and,
as required, make on-orbit selection of specific option based on knowledge
of other considerations (e.g., weather, intelligence).
b. Additional Duties for JCS.
As directed by Chairman, JCS:
(1) Review, and assess for the JCS (and D/NRO) forecast NRO
missions for impact on other missions under JCS control. 25X1A
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(2) Define mission conflicts, if any, for decisions as to
priority between Chairman, JCS and Director, NRO, or higher authority
if necessary. '
(3) Define, on basis of forecast NRO missions, potential
impact on resources of Unified and Specified Commands, for such
support, special activities, etc. , as may be required, and make arrange-
ments for provisions of those resources with such commands.
(4) Assure that JCS and NRO are fully and continually informed
on status and readiness of this support.
(5) Inform Director, NRO.of any JCS considerations which in
their estimation may require, as a matter of priority or urgency, a
deletion or modification of forecast NRO plans on the basis of other
military, operational or policy factors, and prepare such modified plans
with Director, NRO concurrence.
(6) Prepare for JCS (and at Director, NRO request, for NRO)
a, monthly summary report of past. and forecast peripheral and overflight
missions and achieved or planned results.
(7) Participate as a matter of course with NRO on planning
and operation matters requiring coordinated actions or missions (e. g. ,
joint peripheral and overflight missions, transmission of execute orders,
etc.).
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