DNI
Seal
The ODNI seal incorporates the DNI's charge to oversee and coordinate the foreign and domestic activities of the United States Intelligence Community. The elements depicted in the ODNI seal symbolize:
- American Bald Eagle: derived from the Great Seal of the United States, the eagle represents the sovereignty of the U.S.
- Escutcheon or shield: composed of 13 stripes, white signifying purity and innocence, and red signifying hardiness and valor.
- "E Pluribus Unum": Latin for "out of many, one", signifies this new organization uniting the many organizations in the Intelligence Community.
- Olive branch: represents the power of peace.
- 13 arrows: represents the power of war.
- Field of blue (background of the seal): signifying vigilance, perseverance and justice;
- 50 white stars: represent the 50 states of the United States.
- Gold lettering: spelling out "Office of the Director of National Intelligence" and "United States of America", symbolize integrity and the highest ideals and goals.
Usage of the ODNI seal, as well as the name and initials, is governed by the ODNI Instruction Number 2005-08; Official Use of the Name, Initials, or Seal of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The instruction indicates that usage of the seal, name, or initials is authorized for individuals within the ODNI for official business and is governed by the deputy directors or heads of ODNI components. No person may knowingly use the official name, initials, or seal in connection with any commercial activity without authorization from the ODNI in writing.
Download the ODNI Seal
History
The idea of a Director of National Intelligence (DNI) dates to 1955 when a blue-ribbon study commissioned by Congress recommended that the Director of Central Intelligence employ a deputy to run the CIA so that the director could focus on coordinating the overall intelligence effort. This notion emerged as a consistent theme in many subsequent studies of the Intelligence Community commissioned by both the legislative and executive branches over the next five decades. It was the attacks of September 11, however, that finally moved forward the longstanding call for major intelligence reform and the creation of a Director of National Intelligence.
Post-9/11 investigations included a joint Congressional inquiry and the independent National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (better known as the 9/11 Commission). The report of the 9/11 Commission in July 2004 proposed sweeping change in the Intelligence Community including the creation of a National Intelligence Director.
Very soon after the best-selling report was released, the federal government moved forward to undertake reform. President Bush signed four Executive Orders in August 2004, which strengthened and reformed the Intelligence Community as much as possible without legislation. In Congress, both the House and Senate passed bills with major amendments to the National Security Act of 1947. Intense negotiations to reconcile the two bills ultimately led to the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), which President Bush signed into law on December 17.
In February 2005, the President announced that John D. Negroponte, ambassador to Iraq, was his nominee to be the first director of national intelligence and Lt. Gen. Michael V. Hayden, USAF, as the first principal deputy DNI, which earned him his fourth star. On April 21, 2005, in the Oval Office, Amb. Negroponte and Gen. Hayden were sworn in, and the ODNI began operations at 7 a.m. on April 22, 2005.
Previous directors include John M. ("Mike") McConnell (Vice Adm., USN Ret.) and Dennis Blair (Adm., USN Ret.). James R. Clapper (Lt. Gen., USAF Ret.) is the current director of national intelligence.
Mission, Vision & Goals
Mission
- Lead Intelligence Integration.
- Forge an Intelligence Community that delivers the most insightful intelligence possible.
Vision
- A Nation made more secure because of a fully integrated Intelligence Community.
Goals
- Integrate intelligence analysis and collection to inform decisions made from the White House to the foxhole.
- Drive responsible and secure information-sharing.
- Set strategic direction and priorities for national intelligence resources and capabilities.
- Develop and implement Unifying Intelligence Strategies across regional and functional portfolios.
- Strengthen partnerships to enrich intelligence.
- Advance cutting-edge capabilities to provide global intelligence advantage.
- Promote a diverse, highly-skilled intelligence workforce that reflects the strength of America.
- Align management practices to best serve the Intelligence Community.
Organization
Organization
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
The Director of National Intelligence serves as the head of the Intelligence Community, overseeing and directing the implementation of the National Intelligence Program and acting as the principal advisor to the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council for intelligence matters related to national security.Download the 2011 ODNI Fact Sheet
Working together with the Principal Deputy DNI and with the assistance of Mission Managers and Deputy Directors, the Office of the DNI's goal is to effectively integrate foreign, military and domestic intelligence in defense of the homeland and of United States interests abroad.
With this goal in mind, Congress provided the DNI with a number of authorities and duties, as outlined in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 including to:
- Ensure that timely and objective national intelligence is provided to the President, the heads of departments and agencies of the executive branch; the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and senior military commanders; and the Congress.
- Establish objectives and priorities for collection, analysis, production, and dissemination of national intelligence.
- Ensure maximum availability of and access to intelligence information within the Intelligence Community.
- Develop and ensure the execution of an annual budget for the National Intelligence program based on budget proposals provided by IC component organizations.
- Oversee coordination of relationships with the intelligence or security services of foreign governments and international organizations.
- Ensure the most accurate analysis of intelligence is derived from all sources to support national security needs.
- Develop personnel policies and programs to enhance the capacity for joint operations and to facilitate staffing of community management functions.
- Oversee the development and implementation of a program management plan for acquisition of major systems, doing so jointly with the Secretary of Defense for DOD programs, that includes cost, schedule, and performance goals and program milestone criteria.
