The Central Intelligence Agency was created in 1947 with the signing of the National Security Act by President Truman. The National Security Act charged the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) with coordinating the nation's intelligence activities and correlating, evaluating, and disseminating intelligence which affects national security.
George J. Tenet was confirmed July 10, 1997, as the current Director of Central Intelligence (DCI). The DCI serves as head of the United States Intelligence Community, principal advisor to the President for Intelligence matters related to national security, and head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
The CIA is an independent agency, responsible to the President through the DCI, and accountable to the American people through the intelligence oversight committees of the U.S. Congress.
CIA's mission is to support the President, the National Security Council, and all officials who make and execute U.S. national security policy by:
Providing accurate, comprehensive, and timely foreign intelligence on national security topics
Conducting counterintelligence activities, special activities, and other functions related to foreign intelligence and national security, as directed by the President.
To accomplish its mission, the CIA engages in research, development, and deployment of high-leverage technology for intelligence purposes. As a separate agency, CIA serves as an independent source of analysis on topics of concern and works closely with the other organizations in the Intelligence Community to ensure that the intelligence consumer--whether Washington policymaker or battlefield commander--receives the best intelligence possible.
As changing global realities have reordered the national security agenda, the CIA has met these new challenges by:
Creating special, multidisciplinary centers to address high-priority issues such as nonproliferation, counterterrorism, counterintelligence, international organized crime and narcotics trafficking, environment, and arms control intelligence.
Forging stronger partnerships between the several intelligence collection disciplines and all-source analysis.
Taking an active part in Intelligence Community analytical efforts and producing all-source analysis on the full range of topics that affect national security.
Contributing to the effectiveness of the overall Intelligence Community by managing services of common concern in imagery analysis and open-source collection and by participating in strategic partnerships with other intelligence agencies in the areas of research and development and technical collection.
By emphasizing adaptability in intelligence collection, the CIA can tailor
its support to key intelligence consumers
to help meet their needs as they face the issues of the post-Cold War world.
The Deputy Director of Central Intelligence is General John A. Gordon, who was confirmed on October 31, 1997. The DDCI assists the Director in his duties as head of the CIA and the Intelligence Community and exercises the powers of the Director when the Director's position is vacant or in the Director's absence or disability.
The Executive Director of the Central Intelligence Agency is David W. Carey. The EXDIR manages the CIA on a day-to-day basis.
The Directorate of Intelligence, the analytical branch of the CIA, is responsible for the production and dissemination of all-source intelligence analysis on key foreign issues. The current director is John E. McLaughlin.
The Directorate of Science and Technology creates and applies innovative technology in support of the intelligence collection mission. The current director is Gary L. Smith.
The Directorate of Operations is responsible for the clandestine collection of foreign intelligence. The current director is James L. Pavitt.
The Directorate of Administration provides administrative support to the CIA in such areas as communications, security, human resources, and logistics. The current director is Richard D. Calder.
The Center for the Study of Intelligence maintains the Agency's historical materials and promotes the study of intelligence as a legitimate and serious discipline. The current director is Lloyd Salvetti.
The Office of Public Affairs serves as the communications focal point for the media, the general public, and Agency employees. The current director is William R. Harlow.