LETTER TO MR. JOHN W. MACY, JR. FROM RICHARD HELMS DIRECTOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00313R000300090015-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 5, 2001
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: March 6, 1968
• Content Type: LETTER

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20505
6 March 1968
Mr. John W. Macy, Jr.
Executive Secretary
Distinguished Civilian Service
Awards Board
U. S. Civil Service Commission
Washington, D. C. 20415
Thank you for your letter of 19 January inviting me to submit
nominations for the 1968 President's Award for Distinguished Federal
Civilian Service.
I welcome this opportunity to nominate Mr. Arthur C. Lundahl,
Director of the National Photographic Interpretation Center in the
Central Intelligence Agency. I believe that Mr. Lundahl's achieve-
ments in the development of photographic interpretation techniques as
an instrument in the acquisition of intelligence have been an outstand-
ing contribution to the defense of the United States and that of the Free
World. His unusual leadership and competence in this highly technical
field and his achievements in furthering the National Defense efforts
make him a fitting representative of the many career officers who are
serving in critical and vital positions in the Federal service.
The security considerations surrounding Mr. Lundahl's achieve-
ments limit my freedom to go into detail in the enclosed document, and
I would appreciate the privilege of having one of our senior officers brief
members of the Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board on Mr.
Lundahl's contributions.
Six copies of the nomination documents are enclosed.
Sincerely,
Richard Helms
Director
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ARTHUR C. LUNDAHL
Biographic Data
Birth
1 April 1915, Chicago, Illinois
Education
1934-39 :
University of Chicago, B.S., Geology
1939-42 :
University of Chicago, M.S., Geology
1942
University of Chicago, Ph. D. (Prelims)
1948
Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule,
Zurich, Switzerland, Photogrammetry
Employment
1941-42 :
University of Chicago, Instructor in
Photogrammetry
1942-46 :
U. S. Navy, Commissioned Officer on
active duty, Photographic Intelligence
Specialist
1946-53 :
U. S. Navy Photographic Interpretation
Center: Chief, Photogrammetry
Division and Assistant Chief Engineer
Central Intelligence Agency, Director,
National Photographic Interpretation
Center
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CITATION
A distinguished pioneer in photographic interpretation
for twenty-five years, he has been a vital force in enlarging
the contribution of technical intelligence to the national
security of the United States.
His distinguished career with the Central
Intelligence Agency has been marked by exceptional ability,
imagination, drive and dedication. His professional compe-
tence, personality and warmth have made him an inspiring
leader in the intelligence community and a key advisor to
many high government officials.
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Summary of Achievements
1. Developer of Photographic Interpretation as a Major Intelligence
vity. Since Mr. Lundahl entered the Central Intelligence Agency in
he has been responsible for the development and direction of the CIA
potographic c interpretation activity. In this role he is responsible for
advice and guidance on all matters pertaining to the photographic exploita-
tion capabilities of the United States. Under his leadership this activity
has grown from a small group of photographic interpretation specialists to
a highly sophisticated and technically advanced organization charged with
national responsibilities.
Among Mr. LundahlTS most substantive contributions has been
the development of the technical means to ensure maximum exploitation
of an ever-increasing quantity of raw intelligence data derived from im-
proved photography. Furthermore, his appreciation of national strategic
problems enabled him to undertake innovations which have dramatically
facilitated the process of extracting the highest priority intelligence infor-
mation from large volumes of available photography.
2. Scientist and Practitioner. Mr. Lundahl has played a leading
role in the development of photographic interpretation from its infancy
during World War II to a highly sophisticated science. His background in
photogrammetry prepared him for his Navy career during World War II.
He served for four years as a photographic interpretation specialist in the
U. S. Navy. In 1946 he joined the staff of the U. S. Navy Photographic
Interpretation Center as Chief of the Photogrammetry Division. Upon his
transfer to CIA he had risen to one of the top civilian positions in
the U. S. Navy IfflMotographic Interpretation Center. He has written many
papers and articles, including Photographic Intelligence (the Naval Re-
serve Course Syllabus), Naval Photographic Interpretation, Applied
Photography - Super servant of Man (a lecture given at the Cosmos Club,
of which he is a member) and Photogeography and Photogeology: A Review
and Prospectus, as well as more than one hundred classified publications
and more than 250 lecture papers related to national security and USIB
(United States Intelligence Board) intelligence subjects. Mr. Lundahl also
holds two U. S. patents: one on Rotating Plates for Parallax Measurements
and one for the ANZE Camera. Much of Mr. Lundahl's work in this field
must be unknown and unrecognized by public practitioners of this science
because of its highly classified nature.
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1. As the foremost expert in his field, Mr. Lundahl has been close
to the highest levels of the United States Government and has been called
upon to deliver critically important briefings to senior policy officials of
the U. S. and Allied Governments in connection with the most urgent mat-
ters of national security.
2. In 1960 an intensive study of the Government's intelligence efforts
resulted in the assignment of a national role to Mr. Lundahl's organization.
The success of this effort has been due in large measure to Mr. Lundahl's
ability to elicit the cooperation of all branches of the Government involved
in the exploitation of photography for intelligence purposes. In developing
this highly technical activity, he has successfully organized and directed a
truly integrated and coordinated Governmental program.
3. The role of photographic interpretation during the Cuban missile
crisis in 1962 is an excellent example of the contribution made by photo-
graphic interpretation in general and by Mr. Lundahl's organization in
particular. Under his direction, photographic interpreters discovered the
missile threat, and through him the word was flashed to higher authority.
The accurate and rapid analysis of photography was of vital concern to the
most senior policy officials of the Government then and it continues so
today.
1. The value of photographic interpretation should not be measured
in dollars but rather by its contribution of hard facts to the policy-making
process, where but several years ago educated guesses had to suffice.
The successful resolution of the Cuban missile crisis is the most dramatic
and publicized example of the indispensable role of photographs and their
analysis. Photographic interpretation not only substitutes information for
speculation but affords the policy-maker a permanent record of irrefutable
evidence to support his decisions.
2. Mr. Lundahl has consistently encouraged and developed coopera-
tive ventures in research and development with other Government agencies,
sharing benefits and achievements of his own program with others at con-
siderable savings to the United States. He has successfully organized and
directed a truly integrated and coordinated Governmental program which
ensures that vital information is supplied rapidly to the Government's top
policy advisers.
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In 1962 Mr. Lundahl received the following: Letter of Commendation
from the President and one of fourteen Presidential Silver Cuban Crisis
Calendars. In 1963 he received the following honors: National Civil Serv-
ice League Career Service Award, Presidential Unit Citation and Certifi-
cate of Commendation for Meritorious Service with the Central Intelligence
Agency, Fifth Naval District Reserve Intelligence Annual Award for Out-
standing Contribution to National Defense, the American Society of Photo-
grammetryis FMA Photo Interpretation Award, and the American Society
of Photo grammetry Is Honorary Membership Award which is the highest
honor offered by the Society.
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