The Corona program was a series of American strategic reconnaissance satellites produced and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Directorate of Science &Technology with substantial assistance from the U.S. Air Force. The CORONA satellites were used for photographic surveillance of the Soviet Union (USSR),China,and other areas beginning in June 1959 and ending in May 1972.
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is a combat support agency within the United States Department of Defense whose primary mission is collecting,analyzing,and distributing geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) in support of national security. Initially known as the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) from 1996 to 2003,it is a member of the United States Intelligence Community.
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is a member of the United States Intelligence Community and an agency of the United States Department of Defense which designs,builds,launches,and operates the reconnaissance satellites of the U.S. federal government,and provides satellite intelligence to several government agencies,particularly signals intelligence (SIGINT) to the NSA,imagery intelligence (IMINT) to the NGA,and measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) to the DIA. The NRO announced in 2023 that it plans within the following decade to quadruple the number of satellites it operates and increase the number of signals and images it delivers by a factor of ten.
ISTAR stands for intelligence,surveillance,target acquisition,and reconnaissance. In its macroscopic sense,ISTAR is a practice that links several battlefield functions together to assist a combat force in employing its sensors and managing the information they gather.
Edward "Pete" Cleveland Aldridge Jr. is an aerospace engineer and former government official in the U.S. Defense Department. He was also selected as a payload specialist for the Space Shuttle mission STS-62-A,scheduled to launch in July 1986. The mission was canceled after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in January 1986,and Aldridge never flew.
The Aerospace Corporation is an American nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) in El Segundo,California. The corporation provides technical guidance and advice on all aspects of space missions to military,civil,and commercial customers. As the FFRDC for national-security space,Aerospace works closely with organizations such as the United States Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to provide "objective technical analyses and assessments for space programs that serve the national interest". Although the USSF and NRO are the primary customers,Aerospace also performs work for civil agencies such as NASA and NOAA as well as international organizations and governments in the national interest.
Donald MacLean Kerr,Jr. served as the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence from 2007 to 2009. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Thursday,October 4,2007. In March 2009,he received the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal.
Scott F. Large is an American intelligence officer who served as the sixteenth Director of the National Reconnaissance Office from 2007 to 2009. He previously served as the Principal Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office from April to October 2007,and as the Central Intelligence Agency's Associate Deputy Director for Science and Technology.
Keith Ralph Hall is a United States government official who served as the 12th director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
Alexander Henry Flax was the Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) from 1959 to 1961,Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Research and Development from 1963 to 1969,and the third Director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from 1965 to 1969. He was the director at a time when the second generation of imaging systems became operational and began to play a major role in United States intelligence during the Cold War. He oversaw major growth in NRO funding and personnel,the development of signals intelligence collectors from space,and the development of electro-optical imaging for US reconnaissance satellites.
Betty Jean Sapp is the former Director of the National Reconnaissance Office (DNRO). She served as a United States Air Force Officer in a variety of roles,before joining the Central Intelligence Agency in 1997. She was the first female Director of the NRO,serving nearly seven years.
Dennis D. Fitzgerald was the first Principal Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office
Robert Cardillo is a Distinguished Fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology. Prior to this appointment,he was the sixth Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and was sworn in October 3,2014. He was previously selected by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper to serve as the first Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Intelligence Integration in September 2010. Clapper said in a statement that the position would "elevate information sharing and collaboration" between those who collect intelligence and those who analyze it. Cardillo previously served as deputy director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Prior to that,he served as the deputy director for Analysis,DIA,and Director,Analysis and Production,National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).
Carl Ernest Duckett was the founder of the Central Intelligence Agency's science and technology operations.
Paul Garrett Kaminski is a technologist and former U.S. government official,best known for his leading role in the development of stealth aircraft.
Sentient is an automated intelligence analysis system under development by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) of the United States federal government. A principle purpose of the Sentient system is described by the NRO as compiling at machine,versus human speed,synthesis of complex distributed data sources for rapid analysis faster than humans can manage.
Donna D. Shipton is a United States Air Force lieutenant general who serves as commander of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. The center is responsible for total life cycle management for aircraft,engines,munitions,electronic,computer,network,cyber and agile combat support systems. The center employs more than 28,000 people and has a budget of over $300 billion. Previously she served as military deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition,Technology and Logistics.
Christopher Stephen Povak is a United States Space Force major general who serves as the deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office and commander of the Space Force Element to the National Reconnaissance Office. He previously served as the deputy director of the Space Warfighting Analysis Center.
Donald Jason Cothern is a United States Space Force major general who serves as the program executive for ground-based weapon systems at the Missile Defense Agency. He previously served as the deputy commander of the Space Systems Command. He transferred to the Space Force from the United States Air Force in May 2021.
Michael Anthony Guetlein is a United States Space Force general who serves as the second vice chief of space operations. He recently served as the first commander of Space Systems Command from 2021 to 2024. He previously served as the deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office from 2019 to 2021.
