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(U) SIGINT Success Stories -- A Customer's Personal Perspective
FROM: David A. Henson
U.S. Central Command, All-Source Collection Manager - Iraq (CCJ2-JOAQ)
Run Date: 10/04/2006
(U//FOUO) SIDtoday recently issued a call for articles written from a customer's point of view -how does SIGINT help them do their jobs? ... Has their use of SIGINT resulted in any success
stories? David Henson of CENTCOM sent in the following comments:
(U//FOUO) I do not have SIGINT Success Story based on one event; mine reflects the daily
efforts of SIGINTers worldwide to consistently put forth a maximum effort to provide the best
intelligence possible. SIGINT plays a role for me, both professionally and personally.
Professionally, it helps me keep my leadership informed of ongoing activity in the CENTCOM
AOR (Area of Responsibility). Personally, I know SIGINT is part of the intelligence package that
will help my son, deploying for his third tour in Iraq in October, return to his family safely.
(C//SI) My organization (CENTCOM Iraq Team) uses SIGINT reports, in conjunction with the
reporting from other intelligence disciplines, to produce briefings for the CENTCOM Commander's
Daily Update. SIGINT reports help us provide our leadership with the most timely and accurate
information available, and aids greatly in the decision-making process. This all-source
intelligence effort improves every day, and the results of this teamwork are obvious.
(C//SI) SIGINT used to be a mysterious realm, seen only by a select few and never outside of
COMINT channels. SIGINT was protected by a series of caveats and code words that required an
extremely high security clearance, a documented need to know, and (it was rumored) a blood
sample to read. Everyone is familiar with the long-lived anecdote that some of the best
intelligence reporting in existence has never left the beltway. This is no longer true! The tactical
collectors, the Cryptologic Centers, and the folks at Headquarters understand our collection
requirements, and are putting out information that is concise, accurate, and factual; exactly
what the user needs.
(C//SI)The advent of tear-line reporting has allowed a greater degree of intelligence to flow
down to the most critical level of our defense - the soldier on the ground. SIGINT collectors,
analysts, and reporters should be aware that their efforts are being noticed at the operational
levels. Hopefully, our product evaluations are making their way back to the originators.
(U) My SIGINT Success Story is based on the hard work of every collector, analyst, and
reporter, giving 100% every day. Your efforts do not go unnoticed, and for that I offer a
heartfelt and long overdue "thank you."
(U//FOUO) Editor's note: Thanks to
to produce this article.
SID CENTCOM Account Manager, for helping
"(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