When people think of the CIA, they think of people lurking around in trenchcoats, sending messages in code, and using cool tools to do their job. Well, to some extent that’s true, but it’s not the whole story.
The Central Intelligence Agency’s job is to help the President, the National Security Council and all other government officials who make and carry out U.S. national security policy.
We do this in two ways:
We give accurate and timely intelligence (or information) on foreign threats to our security.
We conduct counterintelligence or other special activities relating to foreign intelligence and national security when the President asks us to. OK, that’s the mission, but how do we do it?
Well, first let’s look at how we are asked to do a job. We call it “tasked.” Just like anything in life, there is a way or procedure for how things are done; we call this the intelligence cycle. When we get tasked, we have to follow this cycle to do the job right. There are also checks and balances in place, and the Agency is subject to congressional oversight.
The Intelligence Cycle
Planning and Direction: This is how we decide how to do the job assigned to us. We list what we know and what we don’t know and how we will get it to the policy maker.
Collection: We set out to collect the raw information that we need to do the job. We collect the information from many sources: newspapers, magazines and foreign radio or TV broadcasts, which are overt or “open.” Some sources are “covert” — that is, other people’s secrets. We persuade these people to tell us their secrets. The other way we collect information is with electronics and satellite photography (taking pictures from space).
Processing: We take all the information we have collected and put it into an easy form to understand called an intelligence report. It could be anything from a translation of a document in a foreign language to a description of what we see in a satellite photo.
Analysis and Production: OK, here’s where we sit down with all the information we’ve gathered, sort through it, and write a paper to answer the question or tasking!
Dissemination: This is it, the final step — we give that paper to the policy maker, the same policy maker who started the whole cycle!
After reading it and learning the answer to the question, the policy maker could ask more questions. And then we would start the whole process over again!
— Central Intelligence Agency’s CIA for Kids Web site
The CIA’s mission is to support the President, the National Security Council, and all officials who make and execute the U.S. national security policy by:
– Providing accurate, comprehensive, and timely foreign intelligence on national security topics.
– Conducting counterintelligence activities, special activities and other functions related to foreign intelligence and national security, as directed by the President. To accomplish its mission, the CIA engages in research, development and deployment of high-leverage technology for intelligence purposes. As a separate agency, CIA serves as an independent source of analysis on topics of concern and also works closely with the other organizations in the Intelligence Community to ensure that the intelligence consumer — whether Washington policy maker or battlefield commander — receives the best intelligence possible.
Our Vision
To be the keystone of a U.S. Intelligence Community that is pre-eminent in the world, known for both the high quality of our work and the excellence of our people.
Our Mission
We support the President, the National Security Council and all who make and execute U.S. national security policy by:
Providing accurate, evidence-based, comprehensive, and timely foreign intelligence related to national security; and
Conducting counterintelligence activities, special activities and other functions related to foreign intelligence and national security as directed by the President.
Our Core Beliefs and Values
What we stand for: Intelligence that adds substantial value to the management of crises, the conduct of war and the development of policy.
Objectivity in the substance of intelligence, a deep commitment to the customer in its form and timing.
How we do our work:
Personal and organizational integrity.
Teamwork throughout the Agency and the Intelligence Community.
Total participation of an excellent and diverse work force.
Innovating and taking risks to get the job done.
Adapting to both a changing world environment and evolving customer needs.
Accepting accountability for our actions.
Continuous improvement in all that we do.
— Central Intelligence Agency Web site for grown-ups
