"At NCTC, we sit in the middle of a Counterterrorism and Homeland Security enterprise that includes the federal government and all of our partners in Washington."
—The Hon. Nicholas J. Rasmussen, Director
The documents below are being released to provide information on NCTC’s use of data. Posting these documents online is consistent with our ongoing transparency initiative—which includes the release of documents to the public as well as a series of privacy and civil liberty symposiums—to enhance our outreach and engagement with advocacy and faith-based groups, national security academics, and other members of the public.
Using Counterterrorism Lessons Learned to Address other Transnational Threats
This paper, written by Russell E. Travers of the National Counterterrorism Center in August 2015, was selected as a finalist in the 2015/2016 Galileo Awards Program. The paper lays out a strategic framework for addressing the most tactical of issues, the challenges posed by transnational bad actors. Galileo is an annual Intelligence-wide competition designed to encourage and recognize innovative workforce ideas that address current challenges and help share the future of U.S. Intelligence.
Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE) Fact Sheet - Current as of 30 June 2016
This fact sheet, updated annually, provides a primer on TIDE, the knowledge bank that supports the U.S. Government's terrorist screening systems. Through the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, Congress mandated that NCTC establish and manage TIDE.
Memorandum of Understanding between FinCEN and NCTC (redacted)
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) governs NCTC's access to the Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) data collected pursuant to the reporting authority contained in the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). The redacted MOU places restrictions on the NCTC's access and provides protections to the data.
Overview of the Baseline Safeguard Protections Under NCTC’s 2012 Attorney General Guidelines
A White Paper that describes how NCTC has implemented its Attorney General Guidelines-mandated baseline safeguards, as well as the compliance checks/audits of NCTC’s adherence to those safeguards.
Enhanced Safeguards Decision Matrix
The decision matrix used by NCTC in assessing each replicated non-terrorism dataset for potential application of additional, Enhanced Safeguards, over and above the baseline safeguards which are applied to all replicated datasets.
NCTC Compliance Incident Procedures Regarding Data Handling (redacted)
Procedures for reporting, assessing, investigating and resolving compliance incidents relating to NCTC’s handling of data accessed pursuant to various authorities, to include Executive Order 12333 and/or Attorney General-approved Guidelines.
Overview of NCTC’s Data Access as Authorized by the 2012 Attorney General Guidelines
A White Paper detailing the categories of data that NCTC replicates under its Attorney General Guidelines, as well as how this data is used by NCTC to fulfill its counterterrorism mission.
NCTC’s Annual Report on the Access, Retention, Use and Dissemination of United States Person Information For the Period March 23, 2012 through March 31, 2013 (redacted)
NCTC’s first annual report to the ODNI General Counsel and Civil Liberties Protection Officer, as well as the IC Inspector General, on NCTC’s access, retention, use and dissemination of non-terrorism datasets, as required under NCTC’s revised 2012 Attorney General Guidelines.
Memorandum of Agreement Between the Department of Homeland Security and the National Counterterrorism Center Regarding Advance Passenger Information System Data (redacted)
The MOA which allows NCTC to gain bulk access to DHS APIS Data, for up to 1 year, which incorporates detailed restrictions on who can access the data and for what purpose, pre-requisite training, processes for ensuring data is up to date, error correction and feedback, independent auditing by DHS, and many other privacy and civil liberties protective provisions.
ODNI White Paper on Civil Liberties and Privacy Protections
A White Paper issued by the ODNI’s Civil Liberties and Privacy Office explaining the civil liberties and privacy protections incorporated into NCTC’s 2012 Attorney General Guidelines.
NCTC Guidelines – Mission Justification Fact Sheet
A short paper explaining NCTC’s counterterrorism mission, as well as the factors that led to revision of NCTC’s Attorney General Guidelines in March 2012.
Historical Reference Documentation
NCTC Attorney General Guidelines
Executive Order 13354 National Counterterrorism Center
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004
Bomb Threat Stand-Off Distance Chart
Threat descriptions, explosive capacities, building evacuation distances, and outdoor evacuation distances.
Intelligence Guide For First Responders
This Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group (ITACG) Intelligence Guide for First Responders is designed to assist state, local, tribal law enforcement, firefighting, homeland security, and appropriate private sector personnel in accessing and understanding Federal counterterrorism, homeland security, and weapons of mass destruction intelligence reporting.
Daily Threat Reporting
A daily accounting of threat reporting and actions taken.
bulletAnalytic Assessments
Daily analytic products for senior USG officials and the broader CT Community on the full range of terrorist topics. Analysis also provides alternative views on terrorism issues.
Situational Awareness Reports
Situational awareness reports of terrorist threats, incidents, and reported plots worldwide.
Alerts, Advisories, and Warnings
Topics of interest that are widely disseminated to domestic and overseas operators and analysts.
Strategic Operational Plans
Integrated and synchronized across U.S. government agencies, describing specific objectives, department / agency roles and responsibilities, tasks, and activities for counterterrorism.
"The center provides a unique environment to optimize the U.S. government's collective knowledge and formidable capabilities to identify and counter the terrorist threat to the nation."
NCTC comprises employees from partner organizations that include: Central Intelligence Agency; Department of Justice/Federal Bureau of Investigation; Departments of State, Defense, and Homeland Security; and other entities that provide unique expertise such as the Departments of Energy, Treasury, Agriculture, Transportation, and Health and Human Services; Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and the U.S. Capitol Police.
The NCTC also maintains productive relationships with foreign partners. It is the diversity of backgrounds and disciplines fused together in an integrated environment that enriches the NCTC analysis, provides alternative perspectives, and breaks down cultural and physical barriers.
Goals and Objectives
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Protect the homeland and US interests around the world
Integrate across agencies
Motivated and prepared workforce
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Leadership
"Fulfill our leadership role in the counterterrorism community"
1.1 Enhance strategic, tactical, and identities analysis using our access to foreign and domestic threat information and integrated data sets.
1.2 Strengthen the National Intelligence Manager— Counterterrorism role.
1.3 Advance government-wide counterterrorism planning, integration, coordination, and management.
Partnership
"Ensure our domestic and foreign partners have access to terrorism information and analysis when they need it."
2.1 Strengthen NCTC’s relationship with federal partners.
2.2 Enhance NCTC’s foreign government counterterrorism.
People
"Attract, develop, and reward a highly skilled workforce."
3.1 Attract a highly qualified, diverse workforce with an array of backgrounds, skills, and experiences, leveraging expertise from across the intelligence community and the US Government.
3.2 Increase training and professional development opportunities to expand and deepen the expertise of the NCTC workforce.
3.3 Ensure personnel are recognized, rewarded, and given access to the developmental resources they need to succeed.
Process
"Advance business practices to improve NCTC’s culture of collaboration, communication, and integrity."
4.1 Advance collaboration and integration across NCTC Directorates and Offices.
4.2 Improve processes to strengthen products and services to meet customer needs.
4.3 Enhance NCTC’s acquisition, sharing, and safeguarding of data in compliance with laws and policies designed to protect sensitive data.
4.4 Provide clear, consistent, and timely communications throughout NCTC.
Technology
"Enhance the use of information technology resources to strengthen NCTC’s core capabilities."
5.1 Deliver integrated information technology solutions that enable analytic production, seamless collaboration, and secure counterterrorism information sharing.
5.2 Implement and sustain a standards-based counterterrorism architecture and survivable infrastructure to drive efficiencies across the enterprise.
5.3 Define and implement transparent governance, acquisition management, and resource optimization processes to support evolving mission requirements.