DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
(S) For the First Time, Alternate NSOC in Georgia Is Activated in RealWorld Situation
FROM:
NSAG, DECKPIN Coordinator
Run Date: 10/19/2006
(S) The NSA/CSS Georgia-based alternate NSOC (known as DECKPIN) was activated this
summer, the first time this has happened in a real-world, no-notice scenario. DECKPIN was
created to take over critical NSOC functions, should the Fort Meade facility ever lose its ability to
operate, for any reason. On this occasion, the DECKPIN activation was prompted by a reduced
power supply in NSOC. Here's how the story developed:
(S) In late July, high temperatures in the Baltimore area and problems with Baltimore Gas and
Electric power generation caused server and communications failures around the NSA
Washington complex. Those failures resulted in a critical limitation in NSOC's ability to provide
full CRITIC* support to the Intelligence Community. Late on 31 July, the NSOC Senior
Operations Officer (SOO) notified the NSA/CSS Georgia (NSAG) Watch Officer that the DECKPIN
IT infrastructure should be activated as a contingency, and the equipment was warm-started
accordingly.
(S) Early in the morning of 1 August, the SOO alerted NSAG to go to full activation, and a full
recall of DECKPIN personnel began at 0400Z**. Team B DECKPIN was on duty by 0445Z, and
each of the manned DECKPIN desks coordinated activities with their counterparts at NSAW. At
0800Z the SOO called and reported that NSOC was sufficiently functional to release the
DECKPIN team. The IT infrastructure, along with personnel support, were also placed on standby
during the day and evening of 3 August, to ensure availability while the BGE work was
completed.
(S) The successful real-world activation of DECKPIN proved that the NSOC Continuity-ofOperations Program (COOP) is fully functional and that NSAG is prepared to back up NSOC,
should the need ever arise in future.
(U//FOUO) Aerial view of NSA/CSS Georgia
POCs:
, alt-SOO Team B,
, NSAG, DECKPIN Coordinator,
,
,
(U) Notes:
* (C) A "CRITIC" is critical information concerning possible foreign threats to US national
security that are so significant that they require the immediate attention of the President and
the National Security Council. CRITIC information is sent at the highest precedence by the most
rapid means available to ensure delivery within 10 minutes.
** (U) Z, or Zulu Time, is the standard used in watch operations around the world. It equates to
Greenwich Mean Time.
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108
