Spy Satellites and the NRO

History of NRO Security Breaches, January 7, 1974

Background The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) began in 1961, but operated in secret for decades before it was officially acknowledged.…

July 3, 2020

NRO Workforce 2015 Study, 11 April 2012

Background Study encompasses all facets of the NRO workforce, with the goal to optimize human capital across the NRO to…

March 23, 2020

NRO Internal Blog/Newsletter: VIGILANCE FROM ABOVE

Background Internally, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)'s Office of Strategic Communication published the blog entitled, "Vigilance from Above". It appears,…

March 23, 2020

The GAMBIT Story, June 1991

Background This is the second volume in the history of the National Reconnaissance Program. The first volume related the story…

February 14, 2020

NRO Primer Presentation, August 22, 2005

Background The NRO Primer was referenced in a February 2003 issue of the NRO's internal magazine called RECON. I requested…

November 12, 2019

The “NRO Evolution and Overview” video, dated September 11, 1995 (Declassified from SECRET, Appears w/ Redactions)

Background This video was requested via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by John Greenewald, Jr. of The Black Vault.…

May 8, 2019

DCI Task Force on the National Reconnaissance Office, Final Report (The Fuhrman Report), April 1992

Background According to the document, the purpose of this task was was to: "Advise the DCI on issues attendant to…

February 26, 2019

Poppy Satellite

Background POPPY is the code name given to a series of U.S. intelligence satellites operated by the National Reconnaissance Office.…

February 13, 2019

Gambit: Eye of the Eagle — National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Video

Background This video was declassified and released to The Black Vault in NRO Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Case F-2017-00169…

February 7, 2019

Hexagon: Sentinel of Liberty — National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Video

Background This video was declassified and released to The Black Vault in NRO Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Case F-2017-00169…

February 7, 2019