June 9, 2022

Overcoming LGBTQI+ Discrimination in the Federal Civil Service

On April 27, 1953, President Eisenhower issued Executive Order 10450 – a broad order that dealt with many aspects of federal employment including banning LGBTQI+ Americans from civil service positions. In particular, among others, any of the following could be used as grounds for dismissal: Any criminal, infamous, dishonest, immoral, or notoriously

May 26, 2022

Maj. Sinn - People of the NRO

CHANTILLY, Va. — May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month and NRO would like to highlight the work and effort Maj Yong Sinn puts in everyday being a member of the NRO’s Front Office.Q: What is your current position in the NRO?A: I am the executive officer to the principal deputy director of the NRO. I’ve been in this position for about 10 months

May 25, 2022

NRO announces largest award of commercial imagery contracts

CHANTILLY, Va. – The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) today announced the results of its largest-ever commercial imagery contract effort, awarding Electro-Optical Commercial Layer (EOCL) contracts to BlackSky, Maxar, and Planet. Valued at billions of dollars over the next decade, these contracts mark a historic expansion of the NRO’s

April 17, 2022

NRO successfully reuses SpaceX launch booster for first time with NROL-85 mission

CHANTILLY, Va. — The National Reconnaissance Office successfully launched the NROL-85 mission aboard a reflown SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4E located at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) in California today at 6:13 a.m. Pacific Time.Click here to read the entire Press Release

April 11, 2022

NRO Director Dr. Chris Scolese spoke with the House Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Strategic Forces hearing on April 6

CHANTILLY, Va. — On Wednesday, April 6, NRO Director Dr. Chris Scolese, gave his Statement for the Record (SFR) at the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Subcommittee on Strategic Forces hearing on “Fiscal Year 2023 National Security Space Programs” along with four other witnesses. In his opening remarks, Dr. Scolese informed the subcommittee about NRO’s

April 7, 2022

Have you heard of the “Blue Cube?"

CHANTILLY, Va. — Throughout its almost 50-year existence, few in the nation knew about the “Blue Cube” located in Sunnyvale, California. The Air Force Satellite Control Facility (AFSCF) was once home to a light blue, cube-shaped building, which was the distinguishing feature of the compound. This building represented the origins of U.S. space operations.In 1958, as

March 8, 2022

Celebrating International Women's Day

CHANTILLY, Va — Today is International Women’s Day where we celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This day has been celebrated since 1911 (which makes this year the 111th anniversary) in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Its global reach and recognition came in 1975, the year the United Nations officially began

Feb. 22, 2022

Recognizing the first African American astronaut

CHANTILLY, Va. — Talented and brilliant, Robert Henry Lawrence, Jr. was the first African American selected for spaceflight. He was born on Oct. 2, 1935 in Chicago where he graduated from Englewood High School at the age of 16. Lawrence then attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, graduating with a degree in chemistry in 1956 at age 20. Upon graduation,

Feb. 15, 2022

Recognizing NRO's first Chief of Staff Mr. Garnett R. Stowe Jr.

CHANTILLY, Va — NRO continues to recognize Black History Month with Garnett R. Stowe, Jr., NRO’s first chief of staff. A decorated combat aviator, Stowe joined the CIA in 1993, where he was responsible for coordinating full-spectrum intelligence collection programs across the U.S. Intelligence Community. In August 1994, Stowe became the executive assistant to the

Feb. 15, 2022

SSG guardians provide virtual presentations to students across the east coast

Space Systems Group’s (SSG) Space Force Lt. Col. Christopher Evey and Capt. Sam O’Hair are inspiring a younger generation to become interested in space; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM); and possibly becoming future Guardians. Both Guardians are doing this as part of the “STEM to Space” initiative—an initiative that links Space