USA's Agencies -- NRO

NRO

Hi! I am back with another top agency, NRO. You may have heard about it in Dan Brown's book, Deception Point. Any doubt or suggestion, comment or contact me through vanysampayoandyou@hotmail.com

NRO, which stands for National Reconnaissance Office (Fig. 1), is one of the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies and is considered along the CIA, NSA, DIA, and NGA one of the "big five" U.S. intelligence agencies.

"It designs, builds, and operates the spy satellites of the United States government, and coordinates the analysis of aerial surveillance and satellite imagery from several intelligence and military agencies."

It was created on August 25 1960.

The headquarters is located in Chantilly, Virginia, U.S. (Fig. 2)

The actual director is Director Betty J. Sapp (Fig. 3) and the Deputy Director is Frank Calvelli.

Their annual budget had risen to $6 billion (inflation adjusted US$ 9.3 billion in 2013). For Fiscal Year 2012 the budget request for science and technology includes an increase to almost 6% of the NRO budget after it had dropped to just about 3% of the overall budget in recent years.

Their mission is:

NRO develops and operates space reconnaissance systems and conducts intelligence activities.

"The NRO works closely with its intelligence and space partners, which include the National Security Agency (NSA), the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the United States Strategic Command, Naval Research Laboratory and other agencies and organizations."

The NRO's key customers and mission partners include: the Armed Services, police makers, the Intelligence Community, Departments of State, Justice and Treasury and civil agencies. All depend on the unique capabilities NRO systems provide:

• Monitoring the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
• Tracking international terrorists, drug traffickers, and criminal organizations;
• Developing highly accurate military targeting data and bomb damage assessments;
• Supporting international peacekeeping and humanitarian relief operations;
• Assessing the impact of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and fires.

Their core values are:

• Integrity and Accountability;
• Mission Excellence;
• Teamwork Built on Respect and Diversity.

Photos:

Fig. 1   NRO


Fig. 2   Headquarters


Fig. 3   Director Betty J. Sapp


Bibliography:

http://www.nro.gov/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Reconnaissance_Office

Vany Sampayo