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(U) Chef's Choice: What's SID Doing About Transformation 2.0?
FROM: Charlie Meals
Signals Intelligence Deputy Director
Run Date: 11/12/2003
(S//SI) Lt Gen Hayden recently unveiled the Agency's Transformation 2.0 plan designed to more
fully optimize SIGINT for the nation. You may be wondering... "How well is SID moving forward
on this initiative?" The good news is that while the challenges in Transformation 2.0 are very
formidable indeed, we are actually already engaged. One of the most significant changes since
the stand-up of SID is the establishment of our new Issue Manager Team (IMT) effort. The IMTs
(see their IMT/WISE webpage ) are already engaged, and helping to lead the way ahead. The
IMT construct responds directly to General Hayden's assertion that SIGINT is a team sport;
however, as with most new start-ups we are at various stages of the crawl, walk, run
progression. So how, specifically, do the IMTs support the goals of Transformation 2.0?
(S//SI) Transformation 2.0 calls for extensive information sharing and teaming with a wide
variety of partner and client organizations. These can be grouped into four categories:
1. Within NSA (across SID, and between SID and IAD and of course the enabler
organizations);
2. Across the Cryptologic Enterprise , to include RSOCs, Mission Ground Sites, Field
Entities, Tactical Units, and Foreign Partners;
3. Within the Intelligence Community (our collaborating partners CIA, DIA, NIMA, NRO
etc.);
4. With our Clients (military commands, policy makers, law enforcement agencies,
Homeland Security, and perhaps industry).
IMTs are working hard to bring about seamless cooperation not just within SID but also across
the entire SIGINT Enterprise (petals one and two). Experience has proven that this approach
delivers high levels of performance and customer satisfaction - the great success of the Iraq IMT
is an illustrative example of this "teaming" in action. Our vision is that as we move forward, the
IMTs will play an equally important role with petals three and four, which address horizontal
integration with our intelligence community partners and with our major clients worldwide.
(S//SI) Before we can truly optimize the SIGINT system, we must fully understand national
priorities and what we are being asked to do in the context of our customers' intelligence
requirements. This raises another, albeit less obvious, information sharing dimension.
Transformation 2.0 and "information sharing" are about more than the flow of SIGINT: they are
also about coming to a comprehensive understanding of what the customer really wants and
then delivering it. The goal is not merely to respond to information needs; it is to be confident
every day that we are working the highest national priorities, certain that we are absolutely
focused on what the nation needs most. The IMTs, along with the Requirements Analysis Center,
will help us focus on the information needs and determine whether SIGINT, or another "INT", is
best suited for providing intelligence on a given topic.
(S//SI) We are confident that the IMTs will help leverage the SIGINT system to an even higher
level of performance. We have identified 14 IMTs, and hand-picked 40 senior analysts to serve in
this capacity. The IMTs are not identical in structure - some are fulltime, some are part-time but they all share common goals . SID leadership recognizes this is a significant investment of
highly skilled resources, and the fact that we are willing to invest this level of expertise
underscores the value and importance of these positions. In the past, we have hired consulting
firms to make "system-wide" assessments. These assessments were always insightful and
helpful, but unfortunately they were one-off efforts that could not be sustained on a day-to-day
basis. To provide the dynamic focus we need today, we are engaging our own experts to help
identify problems and take advantage of opportunities to work with all of our resources and
partners. The IMTs are here to stay - this is not a one-time event; they will be a continuous
presence to assist in the process of optimizing the SIGINT system.
(S//SI) Needless to say, all of this is a tall order; however, as the IMTs progress in their work, I
believe we will be positioned to reach new heights of success. I encourage you to support them
in every way possible - the outcome will be what our nation deserves: sustainment of the very
best SIGINT products and services.
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid comms)."
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DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108