Defense Primer: Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security



Updated November 17, 2022
Defense Primer: Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and
Security

The Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and
DOD asserted at the time that in exercising delegated
Security (USD(I&S)) is a civilian official, appointed by the
oversight over intelligence, CI, and security functions, the
President and confirmed by the Senate, who reports directly
position would “provide the Secretary of Defense with the
to the Secretary of Defense. The USD(I&S) is the Principal
flexibility ... require[d] to respond to heightened demands
Staff Assistant and advisor to the Secretary and Deputy
on the [DOD] to support the President’s efforts to prevent
Secretary of Defense on intelligence, counterintelligence
and respond to acts of terrorism against the United States.”
(CI), security, sensitive activities, and other intelligence-
The legislative language establishing the position of USD(I)
related matters. On behalf of the Secretary, the USD(I&S)
was included under Section 901 of the National Defense
also exercises authority, direction, and control over
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (P.L. 107-314),
Department of Defense (DOD) intelligence and security
which was codified as Section 137 of Title 10, United
agencies, field activities, policy, processes, procedures, and
States Code.
products.
USD(I&S)s to Date
To give greater emphasis to the importance and scope of the
USD(I&S)’s security responsibilities, including primary

Stephen A. Cambone (March 2003-December 2006)
federal government responsibility for conducting

James R. Clapper (April 2007-August 2010)
background investigations (consistent with Executive Order

Michael G. Vickers (March 2011-April 2015)
13869), Congress redesignated the position of Under

Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USD(I)) as the Under

Marcel Lettre (December 2015-January 2017)
Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security

Todd Lowery (acting) (January 2017-June 2017)
(USD(I&S)) in the National Defense Authorization Act

Kari Bingen (acting) (June 2017-December 2017)
(NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020 (Section 1621 of P.L. 116-

Joseph D. Kernan (December 2017-November 2020)
92).

Ezra Cohen-Watnick (acting) (November 2020-January
As the head of the defense intelligence and security
2021)
enterprise, the USD(I&S) has responsibility for a significant

David M. Taylor (acting) (January 2021-June 2021)
portion of the personnel and funding supporting the

Ronald S. Moultrie (June, 2021-present)
Intelligence Community (IC) overall. The USD(I&S) and
staff, however, are not themselves statutory elements of the
IC. Title 50 U.S. Code §3003(4) lists the 18 organizational
Origin of “Dual-Hatted” Role for USD(I&S)
elements of the IC, two of which are independent—the
In May 2007, the Secretary of Defense and the Director of
Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and
National Intelligence (DNI) signed a Memorandum of
Central Intelligence Agency—and 16 of which are
Agreement (MOA) to establish a dual role for the USD(I).
components of six separate departments of the federal
In a news release announcing the issuance of the MOA,
government. The nine IC elements within the DOD
then-USD(I) James Clapper indicated that the creation of a
comprise the defense intelligence and security enterprise
Director of Defense Intelligence (DDI) position was
overseen by the USD(I&S). They include the Defense
intended to “strengthen the relationship between the DNI
Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Geospatial
and the DOD … [and] to facilitate staff interaction and
Intelligence Agency (NGA), National Security Agency
promote synchronization.” Under the “dual-hatting”
(NSA), National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and the
arrangement, the incumbent acts as the USD(I&S) within
intelligence components of the Navy, Marine Corps, Army,
the OSD, and acts as the DDI within the ODNI.
Space Force, and Air Force. These elements, in turn,
The DNI and the USD(I&S) together coordinate a number
provide the Joint Staff and Combatant Commands with the
of interagency activities designed to facilitate the
personnel and expertise for their component joint
integration of national- and tactical-level intelligence
intelligence organizations.
activities. When acting as DDI, the USD(I&S) reports
Origin of the USD(I&S) Position
directly to the DNI and serves as his or her principal
advisor regarding defense intelligence. The USD(I&S)
Leadership of intelligence-related functions within the
ensures defense intelligence is coordinated and aligned with
Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) has been
realigned multiple times over the course of DOD’s history
IC programs and priorities, and addresses strategic, tactical,
.
or operational requirements supporting military strategy and
The most recent development came when Congress
operations. The USD(I&S) and staff, therefore, provide
established the USD(I) position in the aftermath of the
strategic direction and oversight of the defense products and
September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
services derived from the collection, processing, evaluation,
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Defense Primer: Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security
and analysis of information concerning foreign nations,
Intelligence Program (MIP) and managing the MIP through
foreign hostile or potentially hostile forces or elements, or
the DOD Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and
areas of actual or potential military operations.
Execution (PPBE) process. The USD(I&S) also has
acquisition authority for intelligence, CI, and security-
Roles and Responsibilities of the
related technologies, systems, and equipment, and exercises
USD(I&S)
oversight of personnel and manpower issues for defense
DOD Directive 5143.01, updated April 6, 2020, establishes
intelligence positions.
the responsibilities, functions, relationships, and authorities
of the USD(I&S) within DOD, as defined by law, executive
Program Executive of the MIP
order, and DOD policy, including those responsibilities and
IC spending is usually understood as the sum of two
authorities delegated from the Secretary of Defense to the
separate budget programs: (1) the National Intelligence
USD(I&S). Per DOD Directive 5143.01, among the
Program (NIP), which covers IC-wide programs, projects,
USD(I&S)’s major responsibilities and functions are,
and activities oriented toward the strategic needs of
decision-makers; and (2) the MIP, which funds defense
 advising the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy
intelligence activities intended to support tactical military
Secretary of Defense regarding defense
operations and priorities. The DNI manages the NIP budget
intelligence, CI, security, sensitive activities, and
through the IC budget process (Intelligence Planning,
other intelligence-related matters;
Programming, Budgeting and Evaluation Process, or
 serving as DDI and principal advisor to the DNI
IPPBE). The USD(I&S) manages the MIP and its
on defense intelligence, as well as facilitating the
accompanying budget separately through the DOD’s PPBE
integration of defense intelligence and DOD
process. The DNI and USD(I&S) thus coordinate and
support with IC activities;
integrate the two programs within the constraints of two
 engaging the National Security Council (NSC)
separate budget processes.
staff, other government agencies (OGAs), and
 For FY2022, funds appropriated for the NIP and
DOD components to develop defense intelligence
MIP totaled $89.8 billion ($65.7 billion for the
policies, plans, and programs;
NIP and $24.1 billion for the MIP).
 serving as DOD senior official for the insider
 For FY2023, funds requested for the NIP and MIP
threat program, and providing strategic direction
totaled $93.7 billion ($67.1 billion in NIP funds
and oversight of defense CI programs generally;

and $26.6 billion in MIP funds).
on behalf of the Secretary of Defense, exercising

authority, direction, control, and oversight over the
activities of the DIA, the NGA, the NRO, the
Relevant Statutes
NSA/Central Security Service (CSS), and the
Title 10, U.S. Code, §137
Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
(DCSA);
 establishing strategy, policy, programs and

priorities for, and providing oversight of, the
CRS Products
Defense Intelligence Enterprise, including all
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
CRS In Focus IF10524, Defense Primer: Budgeting for National
(ISR) manned and unmanned activities (including
and Defense Intelligence, by Michael E. DeVine
cyberspace activities), human intelligence
CRS In Focus IF10525, Defense Primer: National and Defense
collection operations, and defense signals
Intelligence, by Michael E. DeVine
intelligence, geospatial intelligence, and
CRS In Focus IF10574, Defense Primer: Intelligence Support to
measurement and signature intelligence
Military Operations, by Michael E. DeVine
capabilities and performance;
 ensuring DOD IC elements are responsive to the
CRS Report R45175, Covert Action and Clandestine Activities of
intelligence needs of operational military forces
the Intelligence Community: Selected Definitions in Brief, by
generally;
Michael E. DeVine
 establishing and maintaining defense intelligence

and CI relationships with foreign defense
intelligence entities in coordination with the Under
Other Resources
Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)), and in
DOD Directive 5143.01, Under Secretary of Defense for
consultation with Combatant Commanders, as
Intelligence, Change 2 effective April 6, 2020.
appropriate; and
 providing strategic direction and oversight of
Executive Order 12333, U.S. Intelligence Activities, as amended.
defense security programs and capabilities,
Michael McConnell, DNI, and Robert Gates, Secretary of
including Defense Counterintelligence and
Defense, Memorandum of Agreement, May 2007.
Security Agency-led activities to protect the
supply chain and conduct personnel background

investigations and security clearance
adjudications.
Michael E. DeVine, Analyst in Intelligence and National
Other major responsibilities and functions of the USD(I&S)
Security
include acting as the Program Executive for the Military
IF10523
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Defense Primer: Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10523 · VERSION 14 · UPDATED