Advancing Intelligence: The Directorate of Science and Technology

The Directorate of Science and Technology (DS&T) plays a significant role in the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) by developing and testing the effectiveness of technology used in the pursuit of gathering intelligence. This paper will briefly explore the meaning and purpose of the DS&T, as well as explain the function of four distinct offices within the directorate—Technical Services, Advanced Analytical Tools, Advanced Projects and Advanced Information Technology. Finally, a discussion of US technology in comparison to that of Israel will suggest ways in which the DS&T may contribute to our continuing national security.

Although complex, both the DS&T and its chief purpose can be clearly defined. Created in 1963 to consolidate national scientific and technological research (Welzenbach, 2012), the self-defined mission of the DS&T is to “attack national intelligence problems with effective targeting, bold technology and superb tradecraft” through the application of “innovative, scientific, engineering, and technical solutions to the most critical intelligence problems” (Central Intelligence Agency, 2012). On a domestic and international scale, this involves activities such as data analysis and the development of strategy; audio, video and satellite surveillance; and the production of technology used for such surveillance (Central Intelligence Agency, 2012). In order to better understand what defines the DS&T, however, it is beneficial to expand on the duties of certain offices.

The DS&T is comprised of many different offices, each with a dedicated purpose. Among these are the Office of Technical Services, the Office of Advanced Analytical Tools, the Office of Advanced Projects and the Office of Advanced Information Technology. The Office of Technical Services supports clandestine operations through the advancement of technology in laboratory settings as well as in the field (Central Intelligence Agency, 2012). From 1995, the DS&T underwent a restructure to ensure it stayed current with advances in the information technology sector (Richelson, 2002). This restructure brought with it the Office of Advanced Analytical Tools in order to tackle emerging information technology in various phases of intelligence analysis, thereby addressing “the problems of information overload” (Central Intelligence Agency, 2012). Similarly, the Office of Advanced Projects was introduced to deal with the impact of technology on United States intelligence gathering and to “facilitate the transfer of technology from various sources and expedite its operational application” (Central Intelligence Agency, 2012). The role of the Office of Advanced Information Technology works to solve critical information technology-related issues, such as the large volume of data collected by the CIA on a daily basis (“CIA, D&ST,” 2001). In order to assess the effectiveness of the work of these offices and the DS&T as a whole, it is worthwhile to compare the USA’s technology program with that of another world nation: Israel.

Assessing US technology in relation to Israel’s development of the same helps to evaluate the current technological capabilities of the US. Jeffrey Richelson lists the DS&T’s accomplishments since the 1960s as the design and operation of “some of America’s most important spy satellites as well as the A-12 (OXCART) and U-2 spy planes”, its involvement in “the collection of signals and intelligence (SIGINT)” and its “technical analysis of foreign missile and space programs” (2002, p. ix). In more recent history, the DS&T boasts of its activities in “providing digital forensic analysis used in confirming the identity of Usama Bin Ladin [sic] and other high-value targets” (Central Intelligence Agency, 2012). Yet in comparison to Israel’s equivalent programs like the Institute for Intelligence and Special Duties—known as the Mosad—and the Israeli Defence Forces’ Unit 8200, it appears the DS&T could benefit from greater innovation, flexibility and transparency. In contrast to the DS&T’s innovations, Matthew Kalman identifies Israel’s technological advances as including “instant messaging, the USB memory stick, the firewall and the secure data links that enable most of the world's banking transactions and TV signal decoders” (2013). Although information on US and Israeli intelligence programs is classified, since 2001 both the Mosad and Unit 8200 have encouraged media attention (Yakhin, 2001), the result of which has been rapid recruitment between the Israeli Defence Forces and innovators from the country’s information technology sector (Orpaz, 2013). Although DS&T officers come from a similarly wide range of disciplines (“FAQs,” 2007), Israeli recruitment has resulted in a direct approach in the application of the same methodologies to intelligence-related and information technology tasks alike, including “cybersecurity, data storage, mobile communications and analytical algorithms” (Kalman, 2013). Not only does Israel’s Intelligence Community owe this rapid development of transformative and progressive approaches to global technology—Unit 8200 has implemented a model for gathering data on communication signals based on Microsoft’s Out of the Box Week (Orpaz, 2013)—but to its investment in young, driven, innovative personnel (Yahkin, 2001; Orpaz, 2013). By attending to the success in which Israel has approached intelligence-related science and technology, the US could continue to develop the technological achievements of the DS&T.

This paper defines the past and present strength of the CIA’s Directorate of Science and Technology, both as an independent entity with offices devoted to various aspects of intelligence work, and in relation to the rapid advance of Israel’s information technology sector and Intelligence Community. Although the DS&T continues to fulfill its mission as a leading creator and operator of collection systems and technologies that enable the gathering and analysis of intelligence, this paper demonstrates that, as science and technology advance worldwide, there are always further innovations to be made in the interests of national security.

References

CIA, D&ST realignment overview, 2000. (2001, September 10). The National Security Archive. Retrieved from http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB54/st44.pdf

Central Intelligence Agency. (2012, September 13). CIA's Directorate of Science & Technology celebrates 50 years of technological excellence. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2012-featured-story-archive/DST-celebrates-50-years.html

Kalman, M. (2013, August 13). Israeli military intelligence unit drives country's hi-tech boom. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/12/israel-military-intelligence-unit-tech-boom?CMP=twt_gu

Orpaz, I. (2013, September 26). 'Preserving the madness' in IDF intelligence. Haaretz. Retrieved from http://www.haaretz.com/business/.premium-1.549075

Richelson, J. T. (2008). The wizards of Langley: Inside the CIA's Directorate of Science and Technology. Boulder, CO: Basic Books.

Welzenbach, D. E. (2012). Science and technology: Origins of a directorate. Studies in Intelligence, 56(3), 65-78. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol.-56-no.-3/pdfs/Origins%20of%20DST.pdf

Yahkin, D. (2001, April 19). "James Bond, No Big Deal": Technological aspects of Mosad operations viewed. Globes. Retrieved from http://www.fas.org/irp/world/israel/mossad/techops.htm