The records released by the National Security Agency provide an important distinction.

The NSA’s PROMIS, or Product Management Information System, was an intelligence-product management database developed during the 1970s. According to records released to The Black Vault under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the system was designed to organize information associated with intelligence reports and give senior signals intelligence managers a way to search, analyze and manage information about those products.

It should not simply be equated with the better-known Prosecutor’s Management Information System, also called PROMIS, associated with INSLAW, Inc. and the Department of Justice.

That distinction became a central issue when the Justice Department investigated allegations surrounding INSLAW and its software in the 1990s. DOJ ultimately concluded in 1994 that there was no credible evidence that INSLAW’s PROMIS had been improperly distributed elsewhere in the federal government or to foreign governments. A subsequent Court of Federal Claims proceeding also rejected INSLAW’s claims.

Yet NSA did, in fact, have something called PROMIS.

The records obtained by The Black Vault document what it was, and then a FOIA request filed in 2013 to uncover those records produced one final surprise nearly 13 years later.

Two Systems Called PROMIS

The Black Vault’s pursuit began with a passage contained in Justice Department records concerning the INSLAW controversy.

On November 14, 2013, The Black Vault filed a FOIA request with NSA seeking:

“a copy of all records pertaining to the NSA’s use of the computer program PROMIS.”

The request specifically cited a Justice Department account stating that investigators had contacted NSA to determine whether the agency “used or developed any program called PROMIS.” According to that account, NSA explained that it had developed a database in the 1970s using the M204 database system and called it PROMIS, an acronym for Product Related On-line Management Information System.

The NSA records subsequently released provide considerably more detail.

A draft Justice Department report sent to NSA for review in May 1994 recounts interviews with NSA personnel about the issue. The document states:

“the NSA maintains a database known as Product Management Information System, or ‘PROMIS.'”

It explains that “Product” was an NSA term for intelligence reports and that the database contained “abstracts of intelligence reports generated by various parts of the NSA.”

Most importantly, the DOJ account records an explicit distinction between NSA’s database and the software at the center of the INSLAW controversy:

“the NSA ‘PROMIS’ is not a software program, but rather is an application of the M204 database management system.”

One NSA employee interviewed by DOJ said she had participated in the original development of the database during the 1970s. According to the document, it was developed “primarily to allow the accumulation of management information regarding the productivity of various NSA divisions.”

That distinction is important because the Justice Department’s own PROMIS was the Prosecutor’s Management Information System, a case-management system used by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. DOJ records describe that system as a tool for maintaining and tracking information involving defendants, crimes, charges, court events and witnesses.

The common acronym helped produce decades of confusion, but the NSA records released through this FOIA case document an independently developed intelligence-product management database.

Building PROMIS Inside NSA

The released records trace the NSA system to early 1974.

A January 15, 1974, memorandum titled “SIGINT Management Data Bases” described the underlying management problem. The Deputy Director for Operations wrote that existing management statistics were prepared separately by different production groups and therefore were not available in a form that fully met his needs.

The memorandum called for:

“a system which will cut across Group lines”

and provide management data while allowing officials to respond to Intelligence Community questions.

Another memorandum, dated January 21, 1974, described plans to implement:

“an on-line computer system to provide product-related data needed at the DDO level and outside the agency.”

The document also made clear that security was built into the design requirements. Because some of the information was sensitive, the system would need controls governing both security and access. The memorandum stated that access to data, “either in part or in whole,” would be restricted to those who actually needed it.

A February 12, 1974, memorandum described the existing process the proposed database was intended to improve. The older Offline Coversheet Processing system was characterized as costly and inadequate, with manual data conversion alone consuming approximately 500 man-hours each quarter. Output could lag by roughly two weeks, while the memorandum estimated an error rate of seven to eight percent.

By May 1974, the name PROMIS was explicitly appearing in the records.

A May 8 memorandum titled “PROMIS Content and Timeliness Requirements” discussed a study of the database and asked what SIGINT products should be included initially, what products should eventually be covered and how current the information needed to be.

The memorandum stated:

“We expect to conclude the study and to recommend a system for PROMIS in the very near future.”

The surviving documents therefore portray PROMIS not as a mysterious stand-alone surveillance package, but as a management and retrieval system built around NSA intelligence “products,” with requirements involving searchable information, access controls, timeliness and the handling of sensitive SIGINT data.

The Black Vault’s FOIA Pursuit

Obtaining those records became its own unusually long story.

The Black Vault filed the request on November 14, 2013.

By March 2016, NSA had located a substantial volume of potentially responsive material but sought $440 in fees to continue processing the request. The Black Vault did not pay the requested amount, and there was no expectation that a release would follow.

Then, unexpectedly, one did.

On October 4, 2018, nearly five years after the original request, NSA sent The Black Vault a partial release. The agency wrote:

“Your request has been processed under the FOIA and some of the documents you requested are enclosed.”

NSA withheld portions under FOIA Exemptions 1, 3 and 6, citing classified national-security information, statutory protections applicable to NSA activities and personal privacy.

Significantly, the October 4 letter also stated:

“Additional documents will be provided when their processing is complete.”

The first release included internal NSA memoranda from the 1970s describing the creation and requirements of the system, along with Justice Department correspondence concerning its later INSLAW investigation.

A second, much larger release followed on October 22, 2018. That production contained 85 pages, including a PROMIS user’s manual and additional memoranda. NSA characterized that production as the final release in the case. The Black Vault subsequently archived the material on this page.

And for years, that appeared to be the end of FOIA case 75611.

It wasn’t.

An Unexpected Letter — Nearly Eight Years Later

On April 29, 2026, The Black Vault received another response from NSA.

There had been no indication to The Black Vault that the 2013 request remained open, and nearly eight years had passed since NSA’s October 2018 releases.

Nevertheless, NSA’s new letter identified the same underlying November 14, 2013 request and described the 2026 correspondence as:

“a final response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request”

The agency then provided an explanation for why a case that had seemingly ended years earlier had suddenly produced another record:

“During a review of our files, we located one document that was not provided to you with our final response to your request.”

NSA said it had reviewed the newly located document under FOIA and released it with redactions. Portions were withheld under the statutory protection applicable to NSA, while NSA also stated that the CIA had requested protection of CIA information under FOIA Exemptions 6 and 3.

The newly released record was dated February 8, 1978.

Its subject was:

“Regular PROMIS Listings for CIA”

That document added a significant piece to the historical record.

Addressed to the DDO from NSA’s Chief, V, the memorandum states that an individual identified as being with CIA/COMP had asked NSA to provide “regular quarterly PROMIS listings” for certain sites. Portions identifying the sites remain redacted.

The memorandum indicates that NSA had previously provided the information on a “one-time basis” the preceding August. The author then questioned whether NSA should establish recurring distribution:

“I don’t see any grounds for standing fast on one-time lists, since we are providing monthly listings for [redacted]”

and noted that another party was “obviously aware of this agreement.”

The identities and portions of the operational context remain withheld, preventing a complete reconstruction of what information was being supplied and to whom. The document does, however, establish that by 1978 NSA officials were discussing providing CIA personnel with recurring PROMIS-generated listings and that at least one earlier PROMIS listing had already been supplied.

What the Records Establish — and What They Do Not

The documents now accumulated through this FOIA case establish that NSA developed a system called PROMIS during the 1970s; that the name referred to a product-management database associated with intelligence reporting; that the system grew out of an effort to replace or supplement cumbersome offline management processes; and that its design contemplated searchable product information with controls over sensitive SIGINT data.

They also show that PROMIS information crossed organizational boundaries. The January 1974 planning records contemplated information needed “outside the agency,” while the newly released 1978 memorandum documents discussions about recurring PROMIS listings for CIA.

What these records do not establish is equally important.

They do not demonstrate that NSA’s PROMIS was INSLAW’s Prosecutor’s Management Information System. In fact, the Justice Department material contained within NSA’s own release specifically records NSA personnel distinguishing the agency’s PROMIS database from a separate software program. Nor do the released records, standing alone, substantiate broader claims that have circulated for decades connecting PROMIS to later NSA surveillance systems.

The documentary record supports a narrower conclusion: NSA developed and operated a PROMIS database for managing intelligence-product information beginning in the 1970s, and surviving records show the system being discussed internally and in connection with information provided to the CIA.

The history of the FOIA request has now lasted almost as long as some modern government information systems themselves. A request submitted in November 2013 produced records in 2018, appeared finished, and then resurfaced without warning in April 2026 when NSA discovered that a responsive 1978 document had been left out of its earlier final production.

Whether additional responsive records remain undiscovered is unknown. NSA’s April 29, 2026, letter again labels its response “final.”

For now, the documents below represent the record released by the government, including the document NSA itself found nearly eight years after its previous final response.

Document Archive

Department of Justice (DOJ)

 Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of INSLAW, Inc., March 1993, and the 1994 DOJ Report on INSLAW/PROMIS matter, released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Information Policy (OIP) [465 Pages, 11MB] – Special thanks to GovernmentAttic.org for this record.

National Security Agency (NSA)

 NSA Documents Regarding PROMIS, Released 4 October 2018 [17 Pages, 2.7MB] – In March of 2016, see below, the NSA required a $440 payment in order to continue to process my request on PROMIS. Although I did not respond, I was surprised to receive this in October of 2018. It appears that this is only part of what the NSA has on PROMIS, and additional records are still being processed. I will add them when they are released to me.

 NSA Documents Regarding PROMIS, Released 22 October 2018 [85 Pages, 8MB] – This release includes the user’s manual of the PROMIS system, various memorandums and more. One document was withheld entirely and this, according to the NSA, is now the final release of information.

 NSA Documents Regarding PROMIS, Released 22 October 2018 [3 Pages, 1MB]

 Payment Estimate Letter (Read Above) Letter regarding the NSA use of the PROMIS System [4 Pages, 1.1MB] – The NSA did find a considerable amount of documents, however, they are requiring a payment of $440 for the release of the material.

The post NSA’s PROMIS: What the Declassified Records Actually Show first appeared on The Black Vault.

The primary purpose of a DIRGram is to ensure that key directives and information from the NSA’s leadership are effectively communicated throughout the agency. This can include:

• Operational Directives: Instructions regarding specific intelligence operations, including changes in procedures or the initiation of new projects.
• Policy Updates: Announcements of new policies or modifications to existing policies that impact the agency’s operations and protocols.
• Strategic Guidance: Communication of strategic priorities and objectives to align the efforts of different divisions with the overall goals of the NSA.
• Administrative Instructions: Information on administrative matters, such as changes in personnel policies, compliance requirements, or internal organizational changes.

Below, you will find DIRgrams released via FOIA.

Document Archive

DIRgrams from September 2001 – September 2002 [40 Pages, 5.5MB]

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The post NSA DIRgram / Director’s Memorandum Archive first appeared on The Black Vault.

In a letter dated March 4, 2021, the NSA responded to Kick’s original FOIA request. Although the NSA released some of the requested documents, certain information was withheld under the provisions of Executive Order 13526, which classifies sensitive information as TOP SECRET due to potential risks to national security. Additionally, other withheld data was protected under statutory laws such as Title 18, U.S. Code 798, and Title 50, U.S. Code 3024(i).

The released reports highlight that the NSA conducts data mining as part of its mission to gather foreign intelligence, particularly to detect terrorist activity. The agency employs advanced analytics to identify predictive patterns within the data. The goal is to discover previously unknown individuals or groups that pose potential threats to national security.

Document Archive

NSA Federal Agency Data Mining Reports, 2017-2018 [60 Pages, 10MB]

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The post NSA Federal Agency Data Mining Reports, 2017-2018 first appeared on The Black Vault.

In a recent development following a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by The Black Vault, the National Security Agency (NSA) has denied access to all documents concerning changes to the agency’s policy on releasing Intellipedia-related information. This decision marks a significant setback in efforts aimed at promoting transparency within the intelligence community.

Intellipedia, a system akin to a classified version of Wikipedia, is utilized by members of the U.S. intelligence community to share information. Historically, the NSA had been more forthcoming with information from Intellipedia, and has released hundreds of entries to The Black Vault through various FOIA requests.

However, a policy shift in 2023 led the agency to adopt a “GLOMAR” response, refusing to confirm or deny the existence of requested information on all related FOIA requests, and ultimately denying them all. All appeals submitted by The Black Vault in 2023, which totaled 130, were all denied,

A new FOIA request was filed on April 14, 2024, seeking records including memos, emails, presentations, and any documentation pertaining to the policy change itself, covering from 2021 to the present. The intent of this request was to understand the rationale behind the shift towards less transparency, which contrasts sharply with the previous decade’s practices of releasing Intellipedia-related information, albeit, in some cases, partially redacted.

The NSA’s response letter, dated April 30, 2024, outlines the full denial of the request, citing multiple exemptions under the FOIA. These include:

• FOIA Exemption (b)(1) – Classification Under Executive Order 13526: The NSA argues that releasing the requested information could “reasonably be expected to cause serious damage to national security,” as it remains classified as SECRET.
• FOIA Exemption (b)(3) – Statutory Protection: Certain information is protected from disclosure by specific U.S. Code statutes, thereby justifying withholding under FOIA’s third exemption.
• FOIA Exemption (b)(5) – Civil Discovery Privileges: Information involving internal communications, which are protected as attorney-client privileged information and attorney work product, falls under the fifth exemption.

The Black Vault has filed an appeal of the decision. Whether this denial will be overturned on appeal remains to be seen, it certainly sets the stage for ongoing discussions about the balance between national security and the public’s right to know, especially when past actions supported transparency to an extent, yet that has been exchanged for immense secrecy – a change in itself that now remains fully classified and exempt from disclosure.

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FOIA Denial Letter

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The post NSA Denies Release of Intellipedia Policy Changes Citing Security Risks first appeared on The Black Vault.

The subpoena, issued by the HPSCI, demands various categories of records from January 1, 2019, to the present, concerning President Trump’s telephone conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, meetings involving U.S. and Ukrainian officials, and efforts by Trump Administration members or associates to induce Ukrainian officials to investigate matters related to Burisma Holdings Ltd., among other topics. The subpoena also seeks information on the withholding, freezing, or delaying of foreign assistance to Ukraine, including security assistance, and the communication of this information to Congress. The email and the attached subpoena are heavily redacted, with several sections obscured under exemptions (b)(3) and (b)(5) of the FOIA, which pertain to information specifically protected from disclosure by statute and inter-agency or intra-agency memoranda or letters, respectively.

Document Archive

October 2019 HPSCI Subpoena of Mark Esper And Preservation Notice Issued to NSA [17 Pages, 2.87MB]

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The post October 2019 HPSCI Subpoena of Mark Esper And Preservation Notice Issued to NSA first appeared on The Black Vault.

Document Archive

NSA Report to the President’s Intelligence Oversight Board (IOB) for 4QT 2001 [9 Pages, 2MB]

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The post NSA Report to the President’s Intelligence Oversight Board (IOB) for 4QT 2001 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The further declassified document offers a more detailed look at how the U.S. government compels electronic communication service providers to assist in intelligence gathering. Section 702 operates as an exception to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), enabling the acquisition of foreign intelligence information without the traditional individual court orders required by FISA for each target.

A significant aspect of the document is its detailed explanation of the targeting and certification process. It outlines how the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and the Attorney General issue certifications and directives, requiring service providers’ assistance, with the NSA Director’s support.

Another critical area covered is the minimization procedures, which focus on the handling of information about U.S. persons, detailing steps to protect their privacy and limit the retention and dissemination of such information. This part of the document underscores the efforts to balance national security needs with individual privacy rights.

Moreover, the document discusses oversight and compliance, detailing the roles of various bodies like the NSA’s Office of Oversight and Compliance and the Department of Justice, in ensuring adherence to the procedures.

The release of this document marks an essential step toward transparency, allowing for a more informed public discourse about U.S. surveillance practices. It provides a rare glimpse into the procedural and legal mechanisms the U.S. government employs to safeguard privacy while collecting foreign intelligence, highlighting the complex balance between national security interests and individual rights.

The earlier versions of this document, with substantial redactions, limited public insight into these surveillance practices. This updated, less redacted version, although still containing some redactions, offers a more comprehensive view, reflecting successful efforts to lift some of the previous redactions. This development is crucial for those advocating for greater transparency and accountability in government surveillance activities. (Note: The Black Vault recognizes that a leaked, unredacted, version is floating around on some websites. However, The Black Vault continues the efforts to get records declassified through legal means and not profile leaked classified information.)

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Document Archive

Further Declassified “FISA Amendments Act Section 702 Summary” Sheds Light on U.S. Surveillance Procedures [20 Pages, 4MB]

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The post Further Declassified “FISA Amendments Act Section 702 Summary” Sheds Light on U.S. Surveillance Procedures first appeared on The Black Vault.

In a recent development that has raised eyebrows among transparency advocates, the National Security Agency (NSA) has taken a firm stance against the release of information from Intellipedia, the Intelligence Community’s collaborative platform. This decision comes as a stark departure from the agency’s previous protocol, which for over a decade allowed the release of records from this platform under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The Appeal and the NSA’s Response

As first reported by The Black Vault, this issue came to light when a series of FOIA requests were recently closed by the NSA, all seeking information from Intellipedia. The newly found stance produced a “GLOMAR Response” in each case where the agency could “neither confirm nor deny the existence or nonexistence of any responsive material contained within the Intellipedia collaborative platform.” However, for more than a decade, The Black Vault received a long list of Intellipedia entries released by the NSA.

There have been 130 appeals submitted by The Black Vault fighting this obfuscation.

The first of these 130 appeals has now had a decision rendered, and it was met with a response that has set a concerning precedent for future requests along with the remaining 129 appeals that are still being processed.

The NSA stated, “Based on my review, the appropriate response in this case is to neither confirm nor deny the existence or nonexistence of any responsive material contained within the Intellipedia collaborative platform.”

The agency further elaborated that revealing any information, even the mere acknowledgment of a topic’s existence within Intellipedia, could “result in the exposure of intelligence information, sources, methods or activities.” They argue that such exposure could “harm our national security and severely undermine the NSA mission.”

While the NSA acknowledges past releases from Intellipedia, they now believe that “continued release could harm national security.” Their rationale? Continuous releases could allow any requester to create a “roadmap of the Intelligence Community’s interest and activities,” revealing its sources and methods.

The Implications for Transparency

This shift in the NSA’s stance is more than just a procedural change. It represents a significant blow to transparency and the public’s right to know. For over a decade, Intellipedia served as a window into the workings and interests of the Intelligence Community. Now, that window has been shuttered.

The NSA’s decision raises a crucial question: If the agency can change its protocol on Intellipedia, what stops them from doing the same with other platforms or sources of information? By seemingly creating a new FOIA exemption, the NSA has set a precedent that could be applied to other areas, further limiting the public’s access to information.

A Departure from Protocol

It’s essential to highlight that this new stance is not rooted in any recent changes to the FOIA or its exemptions. Instead, it appears to be an internal decision by the NSA, one that contradicts their protocol for more than a decade. Such a departure without clear legislative or judicial backing is concerning, as it suggests that agencies can reinterpret or redefine transparency standards at will.

The NSA’s recent decision on Intellipedia is more than just a denial of a FOIA request. It’s a signal of a broader shift away from transparency and a potential harbinger of things to come. As the public and transparency advocates grapple with this change, it’s crucial to remain vigilant and question the implications of such decisions on our right to know and the principles of open government.

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Appeal Denial

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The post The NSA’s Intellipedia Decision: A Precedent for Reduced Transparency? first appeared on The Black Vault.

The First Round: NSA’s Effort against International Terrorism in the 1970s – Cryptologic Almanac, November – December 2002 by Robert J. Hanyok [6 Pages, 1.6MB]

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The post The First Round: NSA’s Effort against International Terrorism in the 1970s – Cryptologic Almanac, November – December 2002 by Robert J. Hanyok first appeared on The Black Vault.

On November 27, 2021, The Black Vault filed a Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) request to have this document further reviewed. Although previously released in 2007 to an unknown FOIA requester, it was redacted heavily in many sections.

In November of 2022, The Black Vault received a much less redacted version, which is available below.

Document Archive

On Watch: Profiles from the National Security Agency’s Past 40 Years, 1984 [112 Pages, 40MB]

The post On Watch: Profiles from the National Security Agency’s Past 40 Years, 1984 first appeared on The Black Vault.

This memorandum also outlined how they ultimately felt that Zechel may have fraudulently hoaxed CIA letters shown at the conference.

For many years, Zechel’s name was redacted. It wasn’t released until a 2017 MDR case by Jack Brewer brought it out.

In 2021, The Black Vault filed an additional MDR case to see if the final piece of the puzzle, the identity of the NSA employee who wrote the memo, could be revealed.

In a May 26, 2022 letter, though not sent to The Black Vault until a postmarked late July 2022 envelope was received, the NSA claims they “could not locate the original, unredacted copy” of the memo. What this means is that the NSA will never be able to disclose any still redacted information either now, or in the future.

This revelation now sits atop a growing number of UFO related documents that are “lost” and unable to be reviewed for further release. Some of those stories can be seen here and here.

Note: Although the NSA still redacts the name of who wrote the memo, the late Phil Klass wrote about this when the document got first released in 1997. He believed the author was MUFON board member Tom Deuley, who worked briefly for the NSA at the time. The newsletter can be found here, and the pertinent section is below:

Document Archive

NSA and a 1978 MUFON Conference: More Lost UFO Material [11 Pages, 4.8MB]

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The post The NSA and a 1978 MUFON Conference: More Lost UFO Material first appeared on The Black Vault.

Although released in early 2018, there were many redactions. However, in August of 2021, The Black Vault filed a Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) case to have the record reviewed again. It was a success, having some (not all) of the redactions lifted. The result was the release of initiative details that include machine learning, stealth science, projected research outcomes, and more.

Below, you will find the release, but also a highlighted release showing what information was declassified for this MDR case.

Document Archive

Research Initiatives Presentation, Dr. Deborah Frincke, Director, NSA/CSS Research Directorate, 22 December 2016 [11 Pages, 5MB]

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Research Initiatives Presentation, Dr. Deborah Frincke, Director, NSA/CSS Research Directorate, 22 December 2016 – Highlighted Version [11 Pages, 5MB]

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The post Research Initiatives Presentation, Dr. Deborah Frincke, Director, NSA/CSS Research Directorate, 22 December 2016 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Below, you will find issue released via the FOIA to The Black Vault.

Document Archive

SIDToday Newsletters, August 26, 2016 – August 30, 2016 [16 Pages, 11MB]

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The post SIDToday Newsletters – NSA Signals Intelligence Directorate Internal Newsletter first appeared on The Black Vault.

It was received by The Black Vault from the NSA, through MDR case 103586.

Document Archive

Final Report of the Audit on the FISA Amendments Act §702 Detasking Requirements, 24 November 2010, AU-10-0023 [57 Pages, 21MB]

The post Final Report of the Audit on the FISA Amendments Act §702 Detasking Requirements, 24 November 2010, AU-10-0023 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Document Archive

The Maya Astronomical Computer, by Charles H. Lacombe and [REDACTED], Winter 1977 [23 Pages, 13.2MB]

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The post The Maya Astronomical Computer, by Charles H. Lacombe and [REDACTED], Winter 1977 first appeared on The Black Vault.

From the document:

“The digital revolution has clearly placed the National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA /CSS) in a unique position to serve the nation in new and exciting ways. Our future demands that we succeed in providing Global Cryptologic Dominance through improved performance and better integration of our core expertise and missions – exploit , protect and defend – while supporting DoD efforts to attack information and information systems. Delivering Global Cryptologic Dominance also demands our best people and best efforts to develop and operate world – class Cryptologic systems and tools. Our aim is to sense, make sense of, and securely share electronically gathered information at the speed, agility, and security that the global information network offers. Additionally, we will measurably improve the security of national security systems and other critical operations and information by providing the Information Assurance know -how and technology when and where needed.”

Document Archive

NSA/CSS Strategy, Published June 2010 [27 Pages, 12MB]

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The post NSA/CSS Strategy, Published June 2010 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The following document was first released in 2005. In February of 2019, The Black Vault filed a Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) request for the record to be further declassified. Although some information was, there was not a lot newly revealed.

The 2019 released version is shown below.

Document Archive

Trip to NSA at Ft. Meade, 29 November 1958 [4 Pages, 1.5MB]

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The post Trip to NSA at Ft. Meade, 29 November 1958 first appeared on The Black Vault.

In the beginning of 2016, I requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and printout of documents listed within the NSA’s ADMS system, which catalogs NSA records within their holdings.

I filed two separate requests, seeking titles and citations for all records that bear the dates before 1900 and the second request was identical but for records dated 1900 through 1920.

The NSA responded to both requests in the same response. Below, you will find the archive.

Document Archive

National Security Agency (NSA) ADMS “Document Management System” Printouts for Documents dated 1930  [6 Pages, 2MB]

 National Security Agency (NSA) ADMS “Document Management System” Printouts for Documents dated through 1920 [61 Pages, 21.6MB]

The post National Security Agency (NSA) ADMS “Document Management System” Printouts first appeared on The Black Vault.

Cryptolog was created in 1974 and was, according to the editor, “a new vehicle for the interchange of ideas on technical subjects.” Another editor called it “a mix of technical, expository, philosophical, futuristic, argumentative and historical articles – with a light touch here and there – there’s always an article or two to engage the reader.” Issues of Cryptolog were published initially on a monthly basis, but in the final years of its publication, were released on a quarterly basis. There were no issues published in 1993 and the final issue was released in July of 1997.

The Black Vault began not only archiving the released versions first put out in 2012, but later filing Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) requests to get them further reviewed.

Below you will find the October 1981 edition, and the huge MDR request success that got much of it further declassified.

Document Archive

Cryptolog (NSA Newsletter), October 1981 Edition, Released September 2020 [18 Pages, 7.5MB]

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Cryptolog (NSA Newsletter), October 1981 Edition, Released September 2020 – HIGHLIGHTED EDITION – [18 Pages, 7.5MB] – This version contains highlighted text, which discerns the newly released information after the MDR.

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Archived Versions

Cryptolog (NSA Newsletter), October 1981 Edition, Released October 2012 – This is the original release of the 1981 edition in 2012. It is archived here to represent how redacted the record originally was.

The post Cryptolog (NSA Newsletter), October 1981 Edition first appeared on The Black Vault.

According to Wikipedia, here is some background on Academi, formerly Blackwater:

“Academi is an American private military company founded in 1997 by former Navy SEAL officer Erik Prince as Blackwater, renamed as Xe Services in 2009 and known as Academi since 2011 after the company was acquired by a group of private investors. The company received widespread notoriety in 2007, when a group of its employees killed 14 Iraqi civilians and injured 20 in Nisour Square, Baghdad, for which four guards were convicted in a U.S. court. Academi provides security services to the United States federal government on a contractual basis. Since 2003, the group has provided services to the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2013, Academi subsidiary International Development Solutions received an approximately $92 million contract for State Department security guards.”

In July of 2014, I went after all contracts between this company and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). In March of 2019, the DIA finally released responsive records (the were added to The Black Vault 12/11/2020).

The available documents are below.

Document Archive

Constellis Holdings / Academi (Formerly Blackwater) Contracts, 2011 – July 2014 [39 Pages, 12.5MB]

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The post Constellis Holdings / Academi (Formerly Blackwater) Contracts, 2011 – July 2014 first appeared on The Black Vault.

NOTE: This page archives the government documents pertaining to this case, but do not miss the “Vault Files” deep dive in the Case Files section: The Vault Files: 1976 Iran Incident.

The following case is thoroughly documented within the United States Government’s files. It was the first document I had ever received under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and will always remain special to me in that regard. But despite my personal connection, this case remains one of the most interesting cases you can find in official documents.

The document, obtained under the FOIA from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) reads as follows (.pdf version):

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What was strange about this case, was the fact that the document was “UNCLASSIFIED.”  However, that was not the case for a document that I obtained from the National Security Agency (NSA) which had one major difference: an opening paragraph from a United States Air Force Captain. This document was classified “CONFIDENTIAL.”  The statement read as follows (full .pdf version):

Another great find within the NSA files, was the routing slip for the original intelligence document. On it, it outlines the extreme importance of the case as it “met the criteria for a valid UFO study.” The reasons outlined were the credibility of the witnesses, which included an Air Force General; radar confirmation; electromagnetic effects on THREE seperate aircraft; physiological effect on some crew members; and a UFO which displayed in “inordinate amount of maneuver-ability.”

Although difficult to read in its entirety, here is the relevant portion of the routing slip:

The full document is available below:

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The post The “1976 Iran Incident” – UFO Encounter over Tehran, Iran first appeared on The Black Vault.

The following document was first received by the National Security Archive many years ago, but it is unclear when it was first declassified. The released version had many redactions.

So, in February of 2019, The Black Vault requested a Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) of the document. In July of 2019, the below was released.

Document Archive

NSA COMINT REPORT: Capital Projects Planned in India, August 31, 1972 [8 Pages, 2.2MB]

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NSA COMINT REPORT: Capital Projects Planned in India, August 31, 1972 – Highlighted Version – [8 Pages, 2.2MB] – This version contains the highlighted information that is newly released, and no longer redacted.

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The post NSA COMINT REPORT: Capital Projects Planned in India, August 31, 1972 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The following document was requested through a Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) request by The Black Vault in February 2019. The records was released at an unknown previous date, but had some of the report redacted.

The MDR was a success, and some of those redactions were lifted on the June 2019 released by the NSA to The Black Vault. I put a “highlighted” version below so you can see the newly released information.

Document Archive

National Security Agency / Central Security Service Transition 2001, December 2000 [45 Pages, 13MB]

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National Security Agency / Central Security Service Transition 2001, December 2000 – Highlighted Version – [45 Pages, 13MB]

The post National Security Agency / Central Security Service Transition 2001, December 2000 first appeared on The Black Vault.

PRISM is a code name for a program under which the United States National Security Agency (NSA) collects internet communications from various U.S. internet companies. The program is also known by the SIGAD US-984XN. PRISM collects stored internet communications based on demands made to internet companies such as Google LLC under Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to turn over any data that match court-approved search terms. Among other things, the NSA can use these PRISM requests to target communications that were encrypted when they traveled across the internet backbone, to focus on stored data that telecommunication filtering systems discarded earlier, and to get data that is easier to handle.

PRISM began in 2007 in the wake of the passage of the Protect America Act under the Bush Administration. The program is operated under the supervision of the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA Court, or FISC) pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Its existence was leaked six years later by NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who warned that the extent of mass data collection was far greater than the public knew and included what he characterized as “dangerous” and “criminal” activities. The disclosures were published by The Guardian and The Washington Post on June 6, 2013. Subsequent documents have demonstrated a financial arrangement between the NSA’s Special Source Operations (SSO) division and PRISM partners in the millions of dollars.

Documents indicate that PRISM is “the number one source of raw intelligence used for NSA analytic reports”, and it accounts for 91% of the NSA’s internet traffic acquired under FISA section 702 authority.” The leaked information came after the revelation that the FISA Court had been ordering a subsidiary of telecommunications company Verizon Communications to turn over to the NSA logs tracking all of its customers’ telephone calls.

U.S. government officials have disputed criticisms of PRISM in the Guardian and Washington Post articles and have defended the program, asserting that it cannot be used on domestic targets without a warrant, that it has helped to prevent acts of terrorism, and that it receives independent oversight from the federal government’s executive, judicial and legislative branches. On June 19, 2013, U.S. President Barack Obama, during a visit to Germany, stated that the NSA’s data gathering practices constitute “a circumscribed, narrow system directed at us being able to protect our people.”

Document Archive

NSA Email: FOIAs for PRISM Information [21 Pages, 5.5MB] – This was an attempt to get previously released records further redacted. In May of 2019, an MDR request was filed to get these e-mails reviewed. Sadly, this time, nothing new was uncovered.

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The post NSA Surveillance Program: PRISM first appeared on The Black Vault.

For the past 24 years, The Black Vault has gone after UFO documents from nearly every government agency that exists. Although thousands of pages have been released in that process, and subsequently archived on the site for others to download, there are many pages that still remain classified that the government will not release.  The National Security Agency (NSA) just confirmed again they not only have Top Secret UFO material, they will also not declassify it for national security reasons.

The lineage of this particular request goes back eleven years to 2009 when The Black Vault sought additional UFO related material from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Originally, The Black Vault had already received hundreds of pages of related material in 1996, but this 2009 request sought new records created after 1996. During the course of this case, it was discovered that five pages of material existed, but the NSA was the agency responsible for declassification. Therefore, the pages were forwarded there for review and possible release.

In August of 2012, three years after the request was filed for records dated after 1996, the NSA denied the request. The Black Vault was told that the information was classified Top Secret, and could not be released because it would “be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security.” In addition, the NSA referenced a common go-to explanation for the UFO phenomena that was rooted in decades prior: weather balloons.

“[‘Unidentified aircraft’ or ‘unidentified (flying) object’] are simply terms that are used to describe conventional aircraft or objects (possibly weather balloons) that have been identified as such at the time of the report,” the letter from the NSA explained. “The reports themselves are not focused on ‘UFOs,’ but happen to contain terms related to them. The 2 documents (5 pages) referred by DIA fits this category and have been reviewed by this Agency as required by the FOIA and have been found to be currently and properly classified in accordance with Executive Order 13526.”

In October of 2019, The Black Vault would try again, and filed a Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) request to the NSA to re-review the five Top Secret pages to see if they could be released. Nearly a year later, the NSA denied the release yet again, as the documents properly maintained a Top Secret classification and could not be released.

The reason for the denial by the NSA was explained with a specific citation within Executive Order 13526. The citation identified the documents as pertaining to “intelligence activities (including covert action), intelligence sources or methods, or cryptology.”

Although there are still thousands of UFO related records that have been declassified and released by the Intelligence Community (IC); there is no doubt that the pages that still remain classified — like these five pages that were denied —  certainly show more of the picture.

The question is, will we ever see them?

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The post NSA Denies Top Secret UFO Documents — Again first appeared on The Black Vault.