Defense Primer: National and Defense Intelligence



Updated November 29, 2022
Defense Primer: National and Defense Intelligence
The Intelligence Community (IC), comprising 18 statutory
programs and activities are funded through National
elements (50 U.S.C. §3003(4)), 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,
comprievaluation of information for its significance to
CIA, and IC elements of the Departments of Homeland
national security at the strategic, operational, and tactical
Security, Energy, the Treasury, Justice, and State, but also,
levels. Consumers of intelligence include the President, the
substantially, for the programs and activities of the
National Security Council (NSC), designated personnel in
intelligence agencies within the DOD, to include the NSA,
executive branch departments and agencies, the military,
NGA, DIA, and NRO.
Congress, and the law enforcement community.
Defense intelligence comprises the intelligence
The IC is composed of 18 elements, 2 of which are
organizations and capabilities of the Joint Staff, DIA,
independent, and 16 of which are component organizations
combatant command joint intelligence centers, and the
of six separate departments of the federal government.
military services that address strategic, operational, or
Many IC elements and most intelligence funding reside
tactical requirements supporting military strategy, planning,
within the Department of Defense (DOD).
and operations. Defense intelligence provides products and
services on foreign military capabilities, plans and
Statutory IC Elements
intentions, orders-of-battle, disposition of forces, and the
political, cultural, and economic factors influencing the
DOD Elements:
environment in areas of actual or potential military

Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
operations. Military Intelligence Program (MIP)

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
appropriations fund military service intelligence personnel,

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)
their training, and tactical military intelligence programs

National Security Agency (NSA)
and activities. Since MIP appropriations relate to tactical

U.S. Air Force Intel igence, Surveil ance and Reconnaissance
rather than strategic capabilities, they fund a narrower range
(AF/A2)
of programs than defense intelligence programs overall.

U.S. Space Force Intel igence (S-2)

U.S. Army Intel igence (G2)
National and defense intelligence are not discrete

U.S. Marine Corps Intel igence, Surveil ance and Reconnaissance
enterprises. The 18 organizational elements of the IC are
Enterprise (MCISR-E)

required to collaborate closely to address intelligence gaps

U.S. Naval Intelligence (N2)
and disseminate products to appropriately cleared personnel
Non-DOD Elements:
across the government in a timely manner. The IC also

leverages relationships with international partners to

Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)

address mutual national security concerns.

Central Intel igence Agency (CIA)

Department of Energy (DOE) intel igence component: Office of
Who Does What?
Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence (I&CI)

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intelligence components:
Executive Order (EO) 12333, codified in 50 U.S.C. §3001,
Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) and U.S. Coast Guard
establishes general duties and responsibilities for each
Intelligence (CG-2)
element of the IC. Other laws, executive orders, and policy

Department of Justice (DOJ) intelligence components: the Drug
issuances may establish additional duties and
Enforcement Agency’s Office of National Security Intel igence
responsibilities for particular IC elements.
(DEA/ONSI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation‘s Intelligence
Branch (IB)


DIA is a DOD combat support agency that collects,

Department of State (DOS) intel igence component: Bureau of
Intelligence and Research (INR)
analyzes, and disseminates foreign military intelligence

Department of the Treasury intelligence component: Office of
to policymakers and the military. DIA serves as the
Intelligence and Analysis (OIA)
nation’s primary manager and producer of foreign
military intelligence; it manages the production of
Source: 50 U.S. Code §3003(4); ODNI.
intelligence for the Secretary of Defense, the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, and the combatant commands.
National and Defense Intelligence
National intelligence addresses the strategic requirements
NGA produces geospatial intelligence products and
of national security policymakers such as the President and
services in support of policymakers, warfighters, other
the Secretaries of Defense and State. National intelligence
intelligence agencies, and first responders.
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NRO builds and operates satellites and ground stations
Strategic, Operational, and Tactical
whose main purpose is collecting imagery and signals
Intelligence
intelligence to support other agencies’ intelligence
Table 1 provides an overview of the intelligence
products and services.
corresponding to what the DOD refers to as the strategic,
operational,
and tactical levels of warfare.
NSA specializes in cryptology, which encompasses
signals intelligence and information assurance, and is
Table 1. Levels of Intelligence
responsible for computer network operations in support
of national security requirements.
Strategic Intelligence assists senior military and civilian
leaders in developing national strategy and policy; monitors the
Military service intelligence elements collect and
international situation; helps with developing military plans;
analyze strategic, operational, and tactical intelligence
assists in determining major weapon systems and force structure
supporting the requirements of the military services
requirements; and supports the conduct of strategic operations.
jointly and separately. Tactical and operational
Operational Intelligence focuses on military capabilities and
intelligence supports military commanders and deployed
intentions of enemies and adversaries; analyzes the operational
warfighters. National military service intelligence
environment; identifies adversary centers of gravity and critical
organizations, such as the Navy’s Office of Naval
vulnerabilities; monitors events in the joint force commander’s
Intelligence, specialize in threat analysis and strategic
area of interest; and supports the planning and conduct of joint
intelligence assessments that can support defense
campaigns and operations.
platform and weapons systems development.
Tactical Intelligence supports military commanders in the

planning and execution of battles, engagements, and other joint
CIA collects, analyzes, evaluates, and disseminates
force activities; and provides commanders with information on
foreign intelligence and counterintelligence in support
imminent threats and changes in the operational environment.
of a broad range of senior national security consumers
including the President, NSC, and military. In addition
Source: CRS adapted from the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), Joint
to its clandestine and open source collection activities,
Publication 2-0, Joint Intelligence, May 26, 2022, pp. I-15—I-19.
CIA has been the leading agency in conducting covert
action as directed by the President.
Relevant Statutes
Other non-DOD elements within the Departments of
Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter 21 – DOD Intelligence Matters
Energy, Homeland Security, Justice, State, and the
Title 50, U.S. Code, Chapter 44 – National Security
Treasury provide intelligence supporting national
requirements particular to the mission of each

department.
Related CRS Products
IC Leadership
CRS In Focus IF10523, Defense Primer: Under Secretary of
Together, the DNI and Under Secretary of Defense for
Defense for Intelligence and Security, by Michael E. DeVine
Intelligence and Security (USD(I&S)) coordinate programs
CRS In Focus IF10524, Defense Primer: Budgeting for National
and activities across the IC to promote an integrated
and Defense Intelligence, by Michael E. DeVine
approach to intelligence collection, analysis, and
dissemination.
CRS In Focus IF10574, Defense Primer: Intelligence Support to
Military Operations
, by Michael E. DeVine
Director of National Intelligence (DNI)
CRS Report R45175, Covert Action and Clandestine Activities of
The DNI is the principal advisor to the President on
the Intelligence Community: Selected Definitions, by Michael E.
intelligence matters. Created by the Intelligence Reform
DeVine
and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA; P.L. 108-
458), the core mission of the DNI and, by extension, the

ODNI is “to lead the IC in intelligence integration” and
Other Resources
ensure all elements are appropriately integrated.
DOD, Joint Publication 2-0, Joint Intelligence, May 26, 2022
Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and
DOD, Joint Publication 2-01, Joint and National Intelligence
Security (USD(I&S)/Director of Defense
Support to Military Operations, July 5, 2017
Intelligence (DDI))
The USD(I&S) position is dual-hatted. When acting as the
(Note: This In Focus was originally written by former CRS
USD(I&S), the incumbent reports directly to the Secretary
Analyst Anne Daugherty Miles.)
of Defense and serves as the Secretary’s principal staff
assistant for intelligence, counterintelligence, security, and
Michael E. DeVine, Analyst in Intelligence and National
other intelligence-related matters. When acting as DDI, the
Security
incumbent reports directly to the DNI and serves as the
DNI’s principal advisor regarding defense intelligence,
IF10525
counterintelligence, and security matters.


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Defense Primer: National and Defense Intelligence


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