Senior Review of the Future of the National Reconnaissance Office
17 April 1996
TERMS OF REFERENCE
1.0 AUTHORITY:
This review is formed in response to the request of the Deputy Director,
National Reconnaissance office, under the authorities of the Director of Central
Intelligence, for a senior panel to review the major factors bearing on the
future of the NRO as an effective organization of the U.S. Government.
2.0 PURPOSE:
The purpose of this review is to assess the NRO and to make recommendations
for the next Director of the NRO on the mission and responsibilities of the NRO
in the 21st Century.
The NRO is in the midst of significant, multiple transitions. The
post-Cold War environment of greater openness has resulted in a change in the
NRO security environment. Consolidations in the defense industry at large have
continued to impact the NRO industrial base. Significant NRO program and
management changes and the major changes in the NRO environment have made a
fundamental review appropriate at this time. Individual NRO programs are in the
process of transitioning to new and integrated architectures by early in the
next decade. Last, but not least, recent events concerning the financial
management have contributed to the erosion of the historical credibility of the
NRO with Congress.
More complex management challenges face the NRO with the transition to an
integrated architecture, the expansion of Congressional and OSD staff oversight,
and increasing attempts to standardize DoD and NRO budget and acquisition
processes. The move away from a highly compartmented security environment and
the pressures from operational military users for increased support and
declassification and sharing with coalition partners also present new
challenges. At the same time, new non-military customers for NRO data continue
to develop novel applications for NRO derived products.
The recent publication of the Commission on the Roles and Capabilities of
the United States Intelligence Community (Brown Commission) and the report of
the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on The Intelligence
Community in the 21st Century (IC-21) have the potential to make a significant
impact on the NRO of the 21st Century. Both studies have recommended significant
modifications to Intelligence Community structures and relationships.
3.0 OBJECTIVES:
The review is to accomplish a comprehensive evaluation of the mission and
responsibilities of the NRO. This will include assessing its mission and
responsibilities in the 21st century; describing how the NRO should relate to
new organizations (e.g., DUSD(Space), DoD Space Architect, the Joint Space
Management Board, the JROC, and National Imagery and Mapping Agency); and
recommending changes to NRO organizational structure and business practices. The
review will not include an assessment of specific program content or status of
NRO programs. The review will provide a basis for recommendations to the next
Director, National Reconnaissance Office on ways to enhance providing unique
intelligence on priority U.S. intelligence needs associated with the planning
and operational cycles of U.S. Government departments and agencies.
4.0 APPROACH:
The review will evaluate each of the following areas. It will include a
description of relevant factors (e.g.-, Brown Commission and IC-21
recommendations), decision criteria, assessment of alternatives, and
recommendations.
21st Century Mission and Strategic Vision
Customers--Definition and Relationships
Organizational Structure and Infrastructure
Benchmarking and Business Processes
Relations with New Organizations
5.0 REVIEW STRUCTURE
This review will be conducted by a Panel composed of individuals from
government and industry at the personal invitation of the DDNRO (See Annex 1).
An Executive Secretary for the Panel will be named by the DDNRO. The Panel will
be supported by a Support Group composed of Working Groups, administrative
activities, and other support activities as required by the Panel. The Panel
Executive Secretary will be responsible for managing Support Group activities,
to include selecting members for any such Working Groups.
6.0 DELIVERABLES
The results of all assessments and recommendations of the Panel will be
presented in a final report and summary briefing to the Acting Director, NRO.
The Panel may also be required to brief their recommendations to other senior
members of the DoD and the Intelligence Community.
