Updated December 30, 2020
Defense Primer: National and Defense Intelligence
The Intelligence Community (IC) is charged with providing
Intelligence Program (NIP) budget appropriations, which
insight into actual or potential threats to the U.S. homeland,
are a consolidation of appropriations for the ODNI; CIA;
the American people, and national interests at home and
general defense; and national cryptologic, reconnaissance,
abroad. It does so through the production of timely and
geospatial, and other specialized intelligence programs. The
apolitical products and services. Intelligence products and
NIP, therefore, provides funding for not only the ODNI,
services result from the collection, processing, analysis, and
CIA and IC elements of the Departments of Homeland
evaluation of information for its significance to national
Security, Energy, the Treasury, Justice and State, but also,
security at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels.
substantially, for the programs and activities of the
Consumers of intelligence include the President, National
intelligence agencies within the DOD, to include the NSA,
Security Council (NSC), designated personnel in executive
NGA, DIA, and NRO.
branch departments and agencies, the military, Congress,
and the law enforcement community.
Defense intelligence comprises the intelligence
organizations and capabilities of the Joint Staff, the DIA,
The IC comprises 17 elements, two of which are
combatant command joint intelligence centers, and the
independent, and 15 of which are component organizations
military services that address strategic, operational or
of six separate departments of the federal government.
tactical requirements supporting military strategy, planning,
Many IC elements and most intelligence funding reside
and operations. Defense intelligence provides products and
within the Department of Defense (DOD).
services on foreign military capabilities, plans and
intentions, orders-of-battle, disposition of forces, and the
Statutory IC Elements
political, cultural and economic factors influencing the
environment in areas of actual or potential military
DOD Elements:
operations. Military Intelligence Program (MIP)
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
appropriations fund military service intelligence personnel,
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
their training, and tactical military intelligence programs
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)
and activities.
National Security Agency (NSA)
U.S. Air Force Intel igence, Surveil ance and Reconnaissance
National and defense intelligence are not discrete
(AF/A2)
enterprises. The 17 organizational elements of the IC are
U.S. Army Intel igence (G2)
required to collaborate closely to address intelligence gaps
U.S. Marine Corps Intel igence, Surveil ance and Reconnaissance
and disseminate products to appropriately cleared personnel
Enterprise (MCISR-E)
across the government in a timely manner. The IC also
U.S. Naval Intelligence (N2)
cultivates ties to international partners to address mutual
Non-DOD Elements:
national security concerns.
Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
Who Does What?
Central Intel igence Agency (CIA)
Executive Order (EO) 12333, codified in 50 U.S.C. §3001,
Department of Energy (DOE) intel igence component: Office of
Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence (I&CI)
establishes general duties and responsibilities for each
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intelligence components:
element of the IC. Other laws, executive orders, and policy
Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) and U.S. Coast Guard
issuances may establish additional duties and
Intelligence (CG-2)
responsibilities for particular IC elements.
Department of Justice (DOJ) intelligence components: the Drug
Enforcement Agency’s Office of National Security Intel igence
DIA is a DOD combat support agency that collects,
(DEA/ONSI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation‘s Intelligence
analyzes, and disseminates foreign military intelligence
Branch (IB)
to policymakers and the military. DIA serves as the
Department of State (DOS) intel igence component: Bureau of
Intelligence and Research (INR)
nation’s primary manager and producer of foreign
Department of Treasury intelligence component: Office of
military intelligence, and a central intelligence producer
Intelligence and Analysis (OIA)
and manager for the Secretary of Defense, the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, and the combatant commands.
Source: 50 U.S. Code §3003(4); ODNI.
NGA produces geospatial intelligence products and
National and Defense Intelligence
services in support of policymakers, warfighters, other
National intelligence addresses the strategic requirements
intelligence agencies, and first responders.
of national security policymakers such as the President and
Secretaries of Defense and State. National intelligence
NRO builds and operates satellites and ground stations
programs and activities are funded through National
whose main purpose is collecting imagery and signals
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intelligence to support other agencies’ intelligence
Strategic, Operational, and Tactical
products and services.
Intelligence
Table 1 provides an overview of the intelligence
NSA specializes in cryptology, encompassing signals
corresponding to what the DOD refers to as the strategic,
intelligence and information assurance, and is
operational and tactical levels of war.
responsible for computer network operations in support
of national security requirements.
Table 1. Levels of Intelligence
Military service intelligence elements collect and
Strategic Intelligence assists senior military and civilian
analyze strategic, operational and tactical intelligence
leaders in developing national strategy and policy; monitors the
supporting the requirements of the military services
international or global situation; assists in developing military
jointly or separately. Tactical and operational
plans; assists in determining major weapon systems and force
intelligence supports military commanders and deployed
structure requirements; and supports the conduct of strategic
warfighters. National military service intelligence
operations.
organizations such as the Navy’s Office of Naval
Operational Intelligence focuses on military capabilities and
Intelligence specialize in threat analysis and strategic
intentions of enemies and adversaries; analyzes the operational
intelligence assessments that can support defense
environment; identifies adversary centers of gravity and critical
platform and weapons systems development.
vulnerabilities; monitors events in the joint force commander’s
area of interest; and supports the planning and conduct of joint
CIA collects, analyzes, evaluates, and disseminates
campaigns.
foreign intelligence and counterintelligence in support
Tactical Intelligence supports military commanders in the
of a broad range of senior national security consumers
planning and execution of battles, engagements, and other joint
including the President, NSC, and military. In addition
force activities; provides commanders with information on
to its clandestine and open source collection activities,
imminent threats to their forces and changes in the operational
CIA has been the leading agency in conducting covert
environment; and provides commanders with obstacle
action as directed by the President.
intelligence.
Other Non-DOD elements within the Departments of
Source: CRS adapted from Joint Publication 2-0, Joint Intelligence,
Energy, Homeland Security, Justice, State, and the
October 2013, p. I-24.
Treasury provide intelligence supporting national
requirements particular to the expertise of each
department. They also contribute valuable strategic
Relevant Statutes
analysis of cross-cutting issues such as treaty
Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter 21 – DOD Intelligence Matters
compliance, counterterrorism, transnational finance, and
Title 50, U.S. Code, Chapter 44 – National Security
transnational organized crime.
IC Leadership
Together, the DNI and Under Secretary of Defense for
CRS Products
Intelligence and Security (USD(I&S)) coordinate programs
CRS In Focus IF10523, Defense Primer: Under Secretary of
and activities across the IC to promote an integrated
Defense for Intelligence and Security, by Michael E. DeVine
approach to intelligence collection, analysis and
CRS In Focus IF10524, Defense Primer: Budgeting for National
dissemination.
and Defense Intelligence, by Michael E. DeVine
Director of National Intelligence (DNI)
CRS In Focus IF10574, Defense Primer: Intelligence Support to
The DNI is the principal advisor to the President on
Military Operations, by Michael E. DeVine
intelligence matters. Created by the Intelligence Reform
CRS Report R45175, Covert Action and Clandestine Activities of
and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) of 2004 (P.L. 108-
the Intelligence Community: Selected Definitions in Brief, by
458), the core mission of the DNI and, by extension, the
Michael E. DeVine
Office of the DNI (ODNI), is “to lead the IC in intelligence
integration” and ensure the 17 elements are appropriately
integrated.
Other Resources
Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and
DOD, Joint Publication 2-0, Joint Intelligence, October 22, 2013
Security (USD(I&S)/Director of Defense
DOD, Joint Publication 2-01, Joint and National Intelligence
Intelligence (DDI))
Support to Military Operations, July 5, 2017
The USD(I&S) position is dual-hatted. When acting as the
USD(I&S), the incumbent reports directly to the Secretary
(Note: This In Focus was originally written by former CRS
of Defense and serves as the Secretary’s principal staff
Analyst Anne Daugherty Miles.)
assistant for intelligence, counterintelligence, security, and
other intelligence-related matters. When acting as DDI, the
Michael E. DeVine, Analyst in Intelligence and National
incumbent reports directly to the DNI and serves as his
Security
principal advisor regarding defense intelligence,
counterintelligence, and security matters.
IF10525
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Defense Primer: National and Defense Intelligence
Disclaimer
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