Goverment

You will choose a topic directly related to the study of intelligence, and then write a 5–8-page research paper on that topic, making use of a minimum of 5 different sources. The paper must be written in APA format and should accord with the standards of academic writing.

Please see the attached grading rubric for specific guidelines and grading procedures.

Submit this assignment by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 7.

Book Reference: Richelson, J. T. (2015). The U.S. Intelligence Community. [Liberty University Online Bookshelf]. Retrieved from https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780813349190/

ANSWER

The Structure and Roles of The US Intelligence Community

The Structure and Roles of The US Intelligence Community

Introduction

The United States has seventeen intelligence organizations that makeup what is referred to as the Intelligence Community (IC). These organizations are five military units, five departments within civilian agencies, and six combat agencies. Each organization in the IC has specific responsibility and duties in the support of the government’s foreign relations and national defense efforts. For some of these organizations, the roles and responsibilities may seem similar. However, each has a set guideline to follow in the fulfillment of its job. In this paper, the structure of the United States IC is discussed to gain a better understanding of each agency and the roles of each.

The United States IC

The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) is the head of the IC. The role of the DNI agency is to receive and integrate domestic, foreign, and military intelligence in the defense of the US and its foreign interests (Richelson, 2015). The DNI is an appointee of the President and their appointment has to be approved by the Senate. The agency acts as the principal advisor to the president, Homeland Security, and the National Security Council on intelligence issues. The DNI determines the priorities and requirements where the IC needs to ensure effective and timely collection, analysis, interpretations, and dissemination of national intelligence information (Richelson, 2015). It also ensures the integration of the agencies in the IC for effective coordination. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) comes under the DNI and is part of the US Executive. The CIA coordinates all intelligence and intelligence-related duties laid out by the National Security Council. It is also responsible for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of national security information and acts as an advisor to the other intelligence agencies (Richelson, 2015).

The CIA is also responsible for conducting covert actions overseas, with the direction of the president. The agency works with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to avoid placement of foreign agents in US agencies that are sensitive to national security. The FBI is a law enforcement agency that collects, uses, and disseminates intelligence to keep the country safe. The FBI is responsible for identifying and terminating threats to the US. The FBI Director reports to the president on national security investigations and foreign intelligence information collection. The agency falls under the Department of Justice and focuses on federal criminal investigations and domestic intelligence (Richelson, 2015). A major responsibility of the FBI is to recover fugitives. The agency also enforces federal statutes to conduct national security investigations that are sensitive. The agency is considered the head of all the other law enforcement agencies.

The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is an organization responsible for all military intelligence (Richelson, 2015). It is a support agency that conducts analysis and disseminates military intelligence to policymakers, combat commanders, defense officials, and other agencies, and is under the Department of Defense. The agency gathers human source intelligence, analyzes technical intelligence, distributes intelligence reports to other intelligence agencies, gives advice and assistance to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and provides military intelligence to combatant commands. The National Security Agency (NSA) focuses on foreign intelligence. The agency, which also falls under the Department of Defense, coordinates, directs and conducts highly-specialized activities that ensure the security of US government information systems (Richelson, 2015). The NSA is also responsible for converting cryptic foreign intelligence communication into comprehensible text and protecting the government’s information systems using cryptography. The agency protects the country and the government by managing its listening posts located across the world. These posts collect information from data signals sent through emails, fax, telephone calls and computers, as well as from spy satellites.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is responsible for the provision of geospatial intelligence to policymakers, intelligence professionals, first responders, and warfighters (Richelson, 2015). The NGA receives guidance and direction from the DNI, the Department of Defense, and Congress. It provides support to counternarcotic, counterterrorism, and border and transportation security. The agency also provides the military with direct targets during wars. The Air Force Intelligence is responsible for providing Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) for ground military troops. The organization has a National Air and Space Intelligence Center, which is a unit that produces and disseminates foreign air and space intelligence. The agency collects and processes intelligence on foreign forces that may pose a threat to the country and share the intelligence with the other agencies of the IC. The US Army Intelligence and Security Command is an organization that gives ground commanders information that they may need during wars (Richelson, 2015). The agency intercepts communications, ground imagery, maps, and information on the force structure.

Within the US Army Intelligence and Security Command is the Office of Deputy Chief of Staff, which has army personnel responsible for the coordination of the key intelligence disciplines: signals intelligence, imagery intelligence, human intelligence, measurement and signature intelligence, and counterintelligence and security countermeasures (Kimmons, 2006). The US Army Intelligence and Security Command is the branch responsible for deciphering and providing cryptologic information to all the military branches and the NSA. The Marines Intelligence Department functions in a similar way to the US Army Intelligence since they provide an agency that collects information on the ground. It is responsible for plans, policy, budgets, programming, and supervision of intelligence and supporting activities within the US Marine Corps (Isely & Crowl, 2015). This intelligence department provides support to the Commandant of the Marine Corps in his role as apart of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The US Coast Guard Intelligence is responsible for information on maritime security and homeland defense (Guard, 2012). It provides other intelligence agencies with information on search and recovery, port security, and counter-narcotics (Richelson, 2015). The agency falls under the Department of Homeland Security and is mandated with investigating and carrying out counterintelligence and personnel security investigations within responsibility areas (Guard, 2012). The Office of Naval Intelligence is an agency that provides security and intelligence information regarding oceans to sailors across the world. Its responsibility is to collect and record naval information that can be used during peacetime and wartime scenarios. The agency gathers intelligence on weapons and technology crossing the oceans in support of illegal or attacks acts. It also provides maritime commanders with information on foreign maritime forces during peacetime and wartime operations.

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is responsible for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of any drug-related intelligence. The agency has a tight relationship with all the other agencies that use or produce narcotics intelligence to ensure efficiency in the reporting of narcotics intelligence information. The Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), which falls under the Department of State, ensures that all intelligence activities are consistent and supportive of foreign policy interests (Beck, 2005). The agency ensures policy reviews of sensitive counterintelligence and law enforcement activities. It also analyzes geographical and international boundary issues. The INR predicts what is likely to happen in the future, assisting the other agencies in decision-making and preparedness. The Department of Energy (DOE) functions as the IC’s resource for technical expertise. The agency focuses on nuclear energy security, nuclear energy, science and technology, and operational support. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is one of the key agencies in the US IC. The agency deals with homeland threats, collecting, and analyzing intelligence information to share with the federal and local law enforcement agencies (Carafano & Heyman, 2004).

The DHS analyzes and understands threats through analysis of collected information and managing homeland security activities. The DHS protects the US and its territories and responds to man-made accidents, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks (Carafano & Heyman, 2004). The Office of Intelligence and Analysis receives, analyzes, and disseminates information on foreign intelligence and counterintelligence. The US Coast Guard is responsible for protecting people from sea threats and protecting the ocean. The National Reconnaissance Office is responsible for the design, building, and operation of the country’s reconnaissance satellites.

Conclusion

The different organizations discussed work together, fulfilling their different roles and responsibilities, to ensure the safety and security of the country and its territories. Some of the main roles of these agencies seem to overlap. However, each of them is vital in the protection of the homeland and the safety of the citizens. The US IC ensures the security of the government, the homeland, and US territories across the world.

References

Beck, C. A. (2005). Bureau of intelligence and research and Washington politics (Doctoral dissertation, uga).

Carafano, J. J., & Heyman, D. (2004). DHS 2.0: rethinking the Department of Homeland Security. Heritage Foundation.

Guard, U. C. (2012). US Coast Guard: America’s Maritime Guardian. Lulu. com.

Isely, J. A., & Crowl, P. A. (2015). US Marines and Amphibious Warfare. Princeton University Press.

Kimmons, J. F. (2006). Transforming army intelligence. Military Review, 86(6), 69.

Richelson, J. T. (2015). The U.S. Intelligence Community. [Liberty University Online Bookshelf]. https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780813349190/