Printer Friendly

ODNI Announces Establishment of National Counterproliferation Center (NCPC)

December 21, 2005

ODNI News Release No. 9-05

 

Today, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) is announcing the formal establishment of the DNI National Counterproliferation Center (NCPC).

The NCPC will coordinate strategic planning within the Intelligence Community (IC) to enhance intelligence support to United States efforts to stem the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and related delivery systems. It will work with the Intelligence Community to identify critical intelligence gaps or shortfalls in collection, analysis or exploitation, and develop solutions to ameliorate or close these gaps. It will also work with the Intelligence Community to identify long-term proliferation threats and requirements and develop strategies to ensure the IC is positioned to address these threats and issues. NCPC will reach out to elements both inside the Intelligence Community and outside the IC and the U.S. Government to identify new methods or technologies that can enhance the capabilities of the IC to detect and defeat future proliferation threats.

“Establishing the National Counterproliferation Center is an essential and critical step forward for the IC and the Nation to help prevent and deter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” said John D. Negroponte, Director of National Intelligence. “Along with the National Counterterrorism Center, the NCPC will enhance our country’s ability to prevent terrorists or terrorist-related entities from acquiring weapons of mass destruction.”

Negroponte appointed Ambassador Kenneth C. Brill to be the Director of the NCPC as well the Counter Proliferation Mission Manager on August 8, 2005. In his capacity as Mission Manger, Ambassador Brill serves as the principal advisor to the DNI on issues and matters relating to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The Intelligence and Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 provided for the establishment of the NCPC to enhance coordination, planning and information sharing amongst the IC on proliferation issues. The Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction’s Report of March 31, 2005 also recommended the establishment of an NCPC. The President accepted the Commission’s recommendation on June 30, 2005.

Media interested in interviewing NCPC officials should contact the ODNI Public Affairs Office at (202) 395-7957.