Intelligence Adds Acquisition Deputy Director

Director McConnell Announces Organizational Changes at the ODNI

WASHINGTON, PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Director of NationalIntelligence Mike McConnell today announced organizational changes necessary to better position the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to effectively lead the Intelligence Community in the next stage of intelligence reform.

"We are moving forward on the next stage of intelligence reform, going beyond the initial progress made to better clarify responsibilities and authorities, create a true community of professionals, radically transform tradecraft, accelerate information sharing and modernize how we do business," said Director McConnell. "The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is better organizing ourselves to effectively lead those efforts."

Highlights of these changes include:

* Elevating acquisition to a Deputy Director of National Intelligence level to increase technological agility and better posture the Intelligence Community to achieve acquisition excellence, streamline acquisition policies and processes, and enhance the professionalism of the acquisition workforce. The goal is to shorten development timelines and produce more reliable systems.

* Creating a new Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Policy, Plans and Requirements, with responsibilities primarily encompassing those of the current Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Requirements and the Assistant Deputy Directors of National Intelligence for Strategy, Plans & Policy, Training & Education, and Security.

* Establishing an Executive Committee (EXCOM) to provide policy inputs to support enhanced Intelligence Community coordination. This body will be composed of senior leaders in the Intelligence Community, the Under Secretary for Intelligence at the Department of Defense, and representation from the Departments of State, Treasury, and Homeland Security. The intent is to use the EXCOM forum to initiate, change, and end programs, policies, and capabilities.

In addition, the DNI will designate the Chief of Staff position as the new Director of the Intelligence Staff (DIS). The DIS will oversee the staff to ensure the effective integration and coordination of policy, positions and procedures across the functional domains of DNI responsibility. For example, all internal ODNI administration will now report directly to the Director of the Intelligence Staff.

Changes will be implemented immediately and are expected to be completed by mid-April. "These adjustments will result in an ODNI better able to make progress on the next stage on intelligence reform and support the needs of the Intelligence Community and our stakeholders," stated Director McConnell.

SOURCE Office of the Director of National Intelligence