Intel gathering

Defense Primer: Intelligence Support to Military Operations

The bulk of the Intelligence Community (IC), eight of 17 total elements, resides within the Department of Defense (DOD). This includes the National Security Agency (NSA), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), National GeospatialIntelligence Agency (NGA), and the intelligence components of the military services. Along with non-DOD IC elements with which they are integrated, these defense elements provide strategic, operational, and tactical intelligence products and services that support military strategy, planning and operations. The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) serves as community manager for the IC and the principal intelligence advisor to the President. The core mission of the DNI is “to lead the IC in intelligence integration” to ensure the IC’s 17 component organizations operate as one team. The Under Secretary of Defense (Intelligence) (USD(I)) manages the DOD intelligence elements. His position is dual-hatted. When acting as the USD(I), the incumbent reports directly to the Secretary of Defense and serves as the Secretary’s principal staff assistant on intelligence, counterintelligence, security, and other intelligence-related matters. When acting as Director of Defense Intelligence (DDI), the incumbent reports directly to the DNI and serves as his principal advisor on defense intelligence matters. Together, the DNI and USD(I) coordinate a number of interagency activities designed to facilitate the seamless integration of national and tacticallevel intelligence...