Political Science

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is a combat agency of the United States Department of Defense. One of the primary functions of NGA is to design imagery and map-based intelligence solutions for the United States homeland security, safety of navigation, and defense. NGA is also a member of national Intelligence Community (IC).

The mission of NGA is to Know the Earth, Show the Way. NGA plays a critical role in providing geospatial intelligence support for military actions, global world events, and disasters.

NGA creates extremely accurate terrain visualization maneuvering to assist 3D fly-throughs and to motion video for better access of a point on the Earth.

Designing route analysis, point targeting, and site selection products based on partners needs is also one of the responsibilities of NGA.

Maritime Watch Desk This is an extremely important function of NGA as it provides real-time information and safety warnings through electronic messages regarding navigation safety hazards, such as military exercises, shifting river channels, obstructions in the water, closure areas, and buoys off station.

Global Event Support NGA assists and supports U.S. government to design geospatial products such as maps of the locations used for the events and surrounding key infrastructure. NGA has also deployed a team of experts to support events with security issues and force protection.

National Reconnaissance Office
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is one of 16 Intelligence Community Agencies. It is a hybrid organization, consisting of some 3,000 personnel, jointly staffed by members of the armed services, Central Intelligence Agency and DoD civilian personnel (Rustan 2009).

NROs mission is Innovative Overhead Intelligence Systems for National Security. A key responsibility of NRO is to help plan military operations, monitor the environment, and warn of potential trouble spots around the world.

NRO, a Department of Defense agency, plays a pivotal role in attaining information advantage for the United States Government and Armed Forces.

The NRO provides the military, the Intelligence Community and policy makers (1) Global situational awareness, (2) Real-time engagement support, (3) Signals intelligence and near real-time imagery, (4) Agile systems, and (5) Access to denied areas.

Department of Treasurys intelligence function
The Treasury Departments Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI) marshals the Departments policy, regulatory, and enforcement.

TFI is responsible for severing the lines of financial support to international terrorists, money launderers, WMD proliferators, and other threats to our national security.

TFI also works in close partnership with the IRS Criminal Investigative Division (IRS-CI) to impose laws against money laundering and terrorist financing, including the Bank Secrecy Act.

The US Department of Treasurys sub-office, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) supervises and marshals economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy and national security goals against terrorists, those engaged in activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, international narcotics traffickers, targeted foreign countries and regimes, and other threats to the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United States.

The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 has established the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (OIA) working under the U.S. Treasury Department. OIA is assigned to give accurate, timely, and focused intelligence assistance on the full range of security, political, and economic issues.

OIA is further responsible for an intelligence production and specialist analysis on economic and other support networks for proliferators, terrorist groups, and other key national security threats.
The Intelligence Authorization Act also identifies that OIA shall be responsible for the analysis, collation, receipt, and dissemination of foreign intelligence and foreign counterintelligence data related to the activities and responsibilities of the Treasury Department.

Department of Homeland Securitys Office of Intelligence and Analysis
Department of Homeland Securitys Office of Intelligence and Analysis (IA), a member of the national Intelligence Community, is responsible for the information related to homeland security threats and collects, analysis, and disseminates that information to the U.S. Government at all levels.
Border Security IA secures all the U.S. borders including land, air, sea, and virtual borders. The sub-office also conducts analysis of a range of interlocking threats to include illicit transnational threats, alien and human smuggling, narcotics trafficking, and money laundering. IA also observes foreign government initiatives that affect border security.

Threat of radicalization and extremism One of the top priorities of IA is observing radicalized Islam (Sunni and Shia groups) in the United States. The agency also focuses on other radicalized domestic groups. An emphasis of IA is on the radicalization process, that is, why and how people who are attracted to radical beliefs cross the line into violence.

Weapons of mass destruction and health threats One of the other major functions of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis is to analyze and design a baseline of the actors, their claims, and their plans to conduct attacks involving chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials against the United States.

United States Coast Guard intelligence function
United States Coast Guard (USCG) Intelligence started working in 1924 as the Office of Intelligence was established. The USCG is the primary enforcement agency for maritime interdiction of smuggled illegal liquor (rum runners) along the coasts and inland waterways (Rosen 2009).

Office of Counterterrorism  Defense Operations, a division of USGC, is responsible for the protection of the U.S. Maritime Domain and the U.S. Marine Transportation System (MTS) including those who live, work or recreate near them the prevention and disruption of terrorist attacks, sabotage, espionage, or subversive acts and response to and recovery from those that do occur.

Maritime Security (Antiterrorism) Division is envisioned to design and enforce all anti-terrorism policies related to maritime security and response operations.

National Defense Strategy Division (NDSD) of USGC is assigned the duties of providing for seamless integration with DoD planning, execution, doctrine, forces and operations among Armed Forces of the United States. NDSD also works towards designing of strategic plans and policies that incorporate USCG with DoD, the Combatant Commands and the other military services

Drug Enforcement Administrations intelligence function
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administrations intelligence division, in collaboration with other federal, state, local, and foreign law intelligence organizations, is required to collect, analyze, and disseminate drug-related intelligence to the relevant agencies.

The Justice Departments website states following as the mission and functions of Drug Enforcement Administrations intelligence division (website DAE ProgramsIntelligence)
Collect and produce intelligence in support of the Administrator and other federal, state, and local agencies
Establish and maintain close working relationships with all agencies that produce or use narcotics intelligence
Increase the efficiency in the reporting, analysis, storage, retrieval, and exchange of such information and,
Undertake a continuing review of the narcotics intelligence effort to identify and correct deficiencies.
Department of States Bureau of Intelligence and Research
The Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), a member of national Intelligence Community, draws on all-source intelligence, caters value-added independent analysis of events to State Departments policymakers (www.state.gov).

The Bureau further ensures that the intelligence operations assist foreign policy and national security objectives.

INR also serves as the focal point in the Department for marshalling policy review of sensitive counterintelligence and law enforcement operations.

INRs chief objective is to harness intelligence to serve U.S. diplomacy. The bureau also observes geographical and international boundary issues.