§441. Establishment

(a) Establishment.-The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is a combat support agency of the Department of Defense and has significant national missions.

(b) Director.-(1) The Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is the head of the agency.

(2) Upon a vacancy in the position of Director, the Secretary of Defense shall recommend to the President an individual for appointment to the position.

(3) If an officer of the armed forces on active duty is appointed to the position of Director, the position shall be treated as having been designated by the President as a position of importance and responsibility for purposes of section 601 of this title and shall carry the grade of lieutenant general, or, in the case of an officer of the Navy, vice admiral.

(c) Director of National Intelligence Collection Tasking Authority.-Unless otherwise directed by the President, the Director of National Intelligence shall have authority (except as otherwise agreed by the Director and the Secretary of Defense) to-

(1) approve collection requirements levied on national imagery collection assets;

(2) determine priorities for such requirements; and

(3) resolve conflicts in such priorities.

(d) Availability and Continued Improvement of Imagery Intelligence Support to All-Source Analysis and Production Function.-The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall take all necessary steps to ensure the full availability and continued improvement of imagery intelligence support for all-source analysis and production.

(Added Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title XI, §1112(a)(2), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2678 ; amended Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title IX, §921(d)(2)(A), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1568 ; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title IX, §931(a)(9), (10), (c)(1)(A), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 285 ; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title IX, §932(a)(8), (9), (b)(1), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4576 ; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title X, §1073(c)(10), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2475 .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2009-Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 111–84 repealed Pub. L. 110–417, §932(a)(8), (9), (b)(1). See 2008 Amendment notes below.

2008-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–181, §931(a)(9), (c)(1)(A), and Pub. L. 110–417, §932(b)(1), amended subsec. (c) identically, substituting "Director of National Intelligence" for "Director of Central Intelligence" in heading and text. Pub. L. 110–417, §932(b)(1), was repealed by Pub. L. 111–84.

Pub. L. 110–181, §931(a)(9), and Pub. L. 110–417, §932(a)(8), amended subsec. (c) identically, substituting "Director of National Intelligence" for "Director of Central Intelligence". Pub. L. 110–417, §932(a)(8), was repealed by Pub. L. 111–84.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–181, §931(a)(10), and Pub. L. 110–417, §932(a)(9), amended subsec. (d) identically, substituting "Director of National Intelligence" for "Director of Central Intelligence". Pub. L. 110–417, §932(a)(9), was repealed by Pub. L. 111–84.

2003-Subsecs. (a), (b)(1). Pub. L. 108–136 substituted "National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency" for "National Imagery and Mapping Agency".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title X, §1073(c), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2474 , provided that the amendment made by section 1073(c)(10) is effective as of Oct. 14, 2008, and as if included in Pub. L. 110–417 as enacted.

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1996, see section 1124 of Pub. L. 104–201, set out as an Effective Date of 1996 Amendment note under section 193 of this title.

Short Title of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title XI, §1101, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2676 , provided that: "This title [enacting this chapter, section 424 of this title, and sections 404e and 404f of Title 50, War and National Defense, amending sections 193, 201, and 451 to 456 of this title, sections 2302, 3132, 4301, 4701, 5102, 5342, 6339, and 7323 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, section 105 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, section 82 of Title 14, Coast Guard, section 2006 of Title 29, Labor, section 1336 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents, and sections 401a and 403–5 of Title 50, renumbering chapter 22 and sections 451, 452, 2792 to 2796, and 2798 of this title as chapter 23 and sections 481, 482, 451 to 455, and 456 of this title, respectively, repealing sections 424, 425, 2791, and 2797 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 193 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 501 of Title 44] may be cited as the 'National Imagery and Mapping Agency Act of 1996'."

Savings Provisions

Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title XI, §1116, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2686 , as amended by Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title X, §1073(c)(8), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1904 , provided that:

"(a) Continuing Effect on Legal Documents.-All orders, determinations, rules, regulations, permits, agreements, international agreements, grants, contracts, leases, certificates, licenses, registrations, privileges, and other administrative actions-

"(1) which have been issued, made, granted, or allowed to become effective by the President, any Federal agency or official thereof, or by a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with any of the functions which are transferred under this title [see Short Title of 1996 Amendment note above] or any function that the National Imagery and Mapping Agency [now National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency] is authorized to perform by law, and

"(2) which are in effect at the time this title takes effect, or were final before the effective date of this title [Oct. 1, 1996] and are to become effective on or after the effective date of this title,

shall continue in effect according to their terms until modified, terminated, superseded, set aside, or revoked in accordance with law by the President, the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency [now National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency] or other authorized official, a court of competent jurisdiction, or by operation of law.

"(b) Proceedings Not Affected.-This title and the amendments made by this title shall not affect any proceedings, including notices of proposed rulemaking, or any application for any license, permit, certificate, or financial assistance pending before an element of the Department of Defense or Central Intelligence Agency at the time this title takes effect, with respect to function of that element transferred by section 1111 [set out below], but such proceedings and applications shall be continued. Orders shall be issued in such proceedings, appeals shall be taken therefrom, and payments shall be made pursuant to such orders, as if this title had not been enacted, and orders issued in any such proceedings shall continue in effect until modified, terminated, superseded, or revoked by a duly authorized official, by a court of competent jurisdiction, or by operation of law. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the discontinuance or modification of any such proceeding under the same terms and conditions and to the same extent that such proceeding could have been discontinued or modified if this title had not been enacted."

Establishment of Advisory Board for National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Pub. L. 117–263, div. F, title LXIV, §6432, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3532 , provided that:

"(a) Establishment.-There is established in the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency an advisory board (in this section referred to as the 'Board').

"(b) Duties.-The Board shall-

"(1) study matters relating to the mission of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, including with respect to integration of commercial capabilities, promoting innovation, advice on next generation tasking, collection, processing, exploitation, and dissemination capabilities, strengthening functional management, acquisition, and such other matters as the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency considers appropriate; and

"(2) advise and report directly to the Director with respect to such matters.

"(c) Members.-

"(1) Number and appointment.-

"(A) In general.-The Board shall be composed of 6 members appointed by the Director from among individuals with demonstrated academic, government, business, or other expertise relevant to the mission and functions of the Agency.

"(B) Notification.-Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Director appoints a member to the Board, the Director shall notify the congressional intelligence committees [Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives] and the congressional defense committees (as defined in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code) of such appointment.

"(C) Initial appointments.-Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2022], the Director shall appoint the initial 6 members to the Board.

"(2) Terms.-Each member shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.

"(3) Vacancy.-Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of that term.

"(4) Chair.-The Board shall have a Chair, who shall be appointed by the Director from among the members.

"(5) Travel expenses.-Each member shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.

"(6) Executive secretary.-The Director may appoint an executive secretary, who shall be an employee of the Agency, to support the Board.

"(d) Meetings.-The Board shall meet not less than quarterly, but may meet more frequently at the call of the Director.

"(e) Reports.-Not later than March 31 of each year, the Board shall submit to the Director and to the congressional intelligence committees, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report on the activities and significant findings of the Board during the preceding year.

"(f) Nonapplicability of Certain Requirements.-The Federal Advisory Committee Act ([former] 5 U.S.C. App.) [see 5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.] shall not apply to the Board.

"(g) Termination.-The Board shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of the first meeting of the Board."

Elevation of the Commercial and Business Operations Office of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Pub. L. 117–263, div. F, title LXIV, §6433, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3533 , provided that: "Beginning not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2022], the head of the commercial and business operations office of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency shall report directly to the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency."

Leveraging Commercial Satellite Remote Sensing

Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVI, §1612, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4049 , as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVI, §1606, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2079 , provided that:

"(a) In General.-In acquiring geospatial intelligence, the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office and the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, shall leverage, to the extent practicable, the capabilities of the industry of the United States, including through the use of domestic commercial geospatial-intelligence services and acquisition of domestic commercial satellite imagery.

"(b) Obtaining Future Geospatial-intelligence Data.-The Director of the National Reconnaissance Office, as part of an analysis of alternatives for the future acquisition of space systems, and the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, as part of an analysis of alternatives for the future acquisition of analysis tools for geospatial intelligence, shall each-

"(1) consider whether there is a cost-effective domestic commercial capability or service available that can meet any or all of the geospatial-intelligence requirements of the Department of Defense, the intelligence community, or both;

"(2) if a cost-effective domestic commercial capability or service is available as described in paragraph (1)-

"(A) give preference to using such domestic commercial capability or service to meet requirements; and

"(B) determine-

"(i) whether it is in the national interest to develop a governmental space system or service for geospatial intelligence;

"(ii) whether such a governmental space system or service would be duplicative to such a domestic commercial capability or service; and

"(iii) the costs for developing such a governmental space system or service; and

"(3) include, as part of the established acquisition reporting requirements to the appropriate congressional committees, any determination made under paragraphs (1) and (2).

"(c) Definitions.-In this section:

"(1) The term 'acquisition of commercial satellite imagery' means the acquisition of satellite imagery derived from electro-optical, infrared, synthetic aperture radar, hyperspectral, and radio frequency, data.

"(2) The term 'appropriate congressional committees' means-

"(A) the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives];

"(B) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and

"(C) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.

"(3) The term 'commercial geospatial-intelligence services' means services including analytic tools, products, or data that can describe, assess, and visually depict natural or manmade features, objects, or activities that can be geographically referenced on the Earth, regardless of collection phenomenology.

"(4) The term 'domestic' includes, with respect to commercial capabilities or services covered by this section, capabilities or services provided by companies that operate in the United States and have active mitigation agreements pursuant to the National Industrial Security Program, unless the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office or the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency submits to the appropriate congressional committees a written determination that excluding such companies is warranted on the basis of national security or strategic policy needs.

"(5) The term 'intelligence community' has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)."

Redesignation of National Imagery and Mapping Agency as National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title IX, §921(a), (g), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1568 , 1570, provided that:

"(a) Redesignation.-The National Imagery and Mapping Agency of the Department of Defense is hereby redesignated as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

"(g) References.-Any reference to the National Imagery and Mapping Agency in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the United States shall be considered to be a reference to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency."

Congressional Findings

Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title XI, §1102, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2676 , provided that: "Congress makes the following findings:

"(1) There is a need within the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community of the United States to provide a single agency focus for the growing number and diverse types of customers for imagery and geospatial information resources within the Government, to ensure visibility and accountability for those resources, and to harness, leverage, and focus rapid technological developments to serve the imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial information customers.

"(2) There is a need for a single Government agency to solicit and advocate the needs of that growing and diverse pool of customers.

"(3) A single combat support agency dedicated to imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial information could act as a focal point for support of all imagery intelligence and geospatial information customers, including customers in the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and related agencies outside of the Department of Defense.

"(4) Such an agency would best serve the needs of the imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial information customers if it were organized-

"(A) to carry out its mission responsibilities under the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense, with the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and

"(B) to carry out its responsibilities to national intelligence customers in accordance with policies and priorities established by the Director of Central Intelligence."

Establishment of National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; Transfer of Functions

Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title XI, §1111, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2677 , provided that:

"(a) Establishment.-There is hereby established in the Department of Defense a Defense Agency to be known as the National Imagery and Mapping Agency [now National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency].

"(b) Transfer of Functions From Department of Defense Entities.-The missions and functions of the following elements of the Department of Defense are transferred to the National Imagery and Mapping Agency [now National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]:

"(1) The Defense Mapping Agency.

"(2) The Central Imagery Office.

"(3) Other elements of the Department of Defense as specified in the classified annex to this Act [see section 1002 of Pub. L. 104–201, set out as a note under section 114 of this title].

"(c) Transfer of Functions From Central Intelligence Agency.-The missions and functions of the following elements of the Central Intelligence Agency are transferred to the National Imagery and Mapping Agency [now National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]:

"(1) The National Photographic Interpretation Center.

"(2) Other elements of the Central Intelligence Agency as specified in the classified annex to this Act.

"(d) Preservation of Level and Quality of Imagery Intelligence Support to All-Source Analysis and Production.-In managing the establishment of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency [now National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency], the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of Central Intelligence, shall ensure that imagery intelligence support provided to all-source analysis and production is in no way degraded or compromised."

Transfers of Personnel and Assets

Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title XI, §1113, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2684 , provided that:

"(a) Personnel and Assets.-Subject to subsections (b) and (c), the personnel, assets, unobligated balances of appropriations and authorizations of appropriations, and, to the extent jointly determined appropriate by the Secretary of Defense and Director of Central Intelligence, obligated balances of appropriations and authorizations of appropriations employed, used, held, arising from, or available in connection with the missions and functions transferred under section 1111(b) or section 1111(c) [set out above] are transferred to the National Imagery and Mapping Agency [now National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]. Transfers of appropriations from the Central Intelligence Agency under this subsection shall be made in accordance with section 1531 of title 31, United States Code.

"(b) Determination of CIA Positions To Be Transferred.-Not earlier than two years after the effective date of this subtitle [Oct. 1, 1996], the Secretary of Defense and the Director of Central Intelligence shall determine which, if any, positions and personnel of the Central Intelligence Agency are to be transferred to the National Imagery and Mapping Agency [now National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]. The positions to be transferred, and the employees serving in such positions, shall be transferred to the National Imagery and Mapping Agency under terms and conditions prescribed by the Secretary of Defense and the Director of Central Intelligence.

"(c) Rule For CIA Imagery Activities Only Partially Transferred.-If the National Photographic Interpretation Center of the Central Intelligence Agency or any imagery-related activity of the Central Intelligence Agency authorized to be performed by the National Imagery and Mapping Agency [now National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency] is not completely transferred to the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, the Secretary of Defense and the Director of Central Intelligence shall-

"(1) jointly determine which, if any, contracts, leases, property, and records employed, used, held, arising from, available to, or otherwise relating to such Center or activity is to be transferred to the National Imagery and Intelligence Agency; and

"(2) provide by written agreement for the transfer of such items."

Creditable Civilian Service for Career Conditional Employees of Defense Mapping Agency

Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title XI, §1115, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2686 , provided that: "In the case of an employee of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency [now National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency] who, on the day before the effective date of this title [Oct. 1, 1996], was an employee of the Defense Mapping Agency in a career-conditional status, the continuous service of that employee as an employee of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency on and after such date shall be considered creditable service for the purpose of any determination of the career status of the employee."

Definitions

Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title XI, §1117, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2686 , provided that: "In this subtitle [subtitle A (§§1111–1118) of title XI of div. A of Pub. L. 104–201, enacting this chapter, section 424 of this title, and sections 3045 and 3046 of Title 50, War and National Defense, amending sections 193 and 451 to 456 of this title, section 1336 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents, and section 3038 of Title 50, renumbering chapter 22 and sections 2792 to 2796 and 2798 of this title as chapter 23 and sections 451 to 455 and 456 of this title, respectively, repealing sections 424 and 425 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 501 of Title 44], the terms 'function', 'imagery', 'imagery intelligence', and 'geospatial information' have the meanings given those terms in section 467 of title 10, United States Code, as added by section 1112."