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.

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

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Summary of the Report:

The report encapsulates several aspects of employee sentiment within the NSD, including their work experiences, satisfaction with leadership, and engagement with various workplace programs. It includes comparative analyses against broader Department of Justice metrics and government-wide averages.

Key Findings:

1. Employee Engagement and Satisfaction:
   • High levels of job significance with 95.4% of NSD employees feeling the work they do is important.
   • Generally positive views on supervision; 88.1% respect their immediate supervisors, and 86.7% reported that their supervisors treat them with respect.
   • However, there are challenges in motivation and leadership effectiveness; only 37.2% felt that senior leaders motivate high levels of commitment.
2. Organizational Effectiveness:
   • Strong positive responses on the NSD’s success in accomplishing its mission (93.7%).
   • The organization scores well in cooperation among colleagues and support for work-life balance.
3. Areas of Concern:
   • Lower satisfaction regarding opportunities for promotion and the link between pay and performance. Only 28.7% felt that pay raises are well-linked to job performance.
   • Concerns about handling poor performance and rewarding creativity; 44.0% are dissatisfied with how poor performers are managed.
4. Work/Life Balance and Support Programs:
   • Varied responses on teleworking policies and work/life programs suggest room for improvement in making these options more accessible and better supported.
5. Demographics and Workforce Diversity:
   • The survey provides demographic insights into the NSD workforce, which is crucial for tailoring diversity and inclusion efforts.

This survey serves as a crucial tool for the NSD to gauge employee morale and organizational health, indicating areas where the division excels and where it might focus on making improvements. The detailed breakdowns by question reveal both the strengths in employee engagement and critical areas where leadership and organizational practices could be enhanced to foster a more motivating and supportive work environment.

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1st Level Subagency Report, Department of Justice, National Security Division – 2017 [26 Pages, 4MB]

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The post 1st Level Subagency Report, Department of Justice, National Security Division – 2017 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The National Guard Bureau (NGB) plays a critical role in the defense and security of the United States. As a joint activity of the Department of Defense, the NGB serves as the channel of communication between the Departments of the Army and Air Force and the states. A recent transition book provides a comprehensive overview of the NGB’s mission, functions, initiatives, and operational aspects. Here’s a closer look at the key contents of the document.

Mission and Functions

The NGB’s mission is to ensure that units and members of the Army National Guard (ARNG) and Air National Guard (ANG) are trained and equipped to support federal and state missions. The document outlines the NGB’s functions, including implementing Department of Defense guidance, prescribing training requirements, and monitoring the organization and operation of National Guard units.

Transition Initiatives and Actions

The transition book discusses various initiatives aimed at enhancing the National Guard’s capabilities. These include efforts to adapt to domestic challenges in the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High-Yield Explosives (CBRN) Response Enterprise, the role of the Council of Governors in advising on National Guard matters, and the development of cyber capabilities to defend against threats.

Programs and Partnerships

The document highlights the National Guard’s Counterdrug Program, which supports law enforcement agencies in combating drug trafficking and use. It also details the State Partnership Program, which builds security cooperation relationships between the National Guard and foreign countries.

Strategic Planning and Budget Oversight

An important aspect of the transition book is the outline of the National Guard’s strategic planning and budget oversight. The development of a National Guard Strategy is underway to provide direction in a rapidly evolving threat environment. The document also covers budgetary aspects for the ARNG and ANG, including funding issues and highlights.

Operational Readiness

The NGB’s Continuity of Operations (COOP) Plan is briefly mentioned, emphasizing the importance of maintaining operational readiness in the face of emergencies. The plan is classified and available upon request.

Conclusion

The National Guard Bureau’s transition book offers valuable insights into the organization’s mission, functions, and initiatives. As the NGB continues to adapt to changing threats and fiscal realities, this document serves as a guide for strategic direction and operational readiness. The National Guard remains a vital component of the Total Force, ready to support and defend the nation in combat and in support of civil authorities.

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National Guard Bureau Transition Book, Date Unknown [43 Pages, 6.69MB]

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The released documents relate to an external peer review of the DIA’s Office of Inspector General, Audit Staff. The review was conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards and the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) Guide for Conducting Peer Reviews of the Audit Organizations of Federal Offices of Inspector General.

The System Review Report states that the review covered the system of quality control for the DIA OIG’s audit organization for the three-year period ending 30 April 2017. The report concludes that the system of quality control was suitably designed and implemented to provide reasonable assurance of compliance with applicable professional standards. The DIA OIG received an External Peer Review rating of “pass.”

The report also mentions that certain limited procedures were applied to DIA OIG’s monitoring of audits performed by Independent Public Accountants (IPAs) under contract. However, it clarifies that these procedures were not subject to Government Auditing Standards and do not result in an opinion on DIA OIG’s monitoring of IPAs’ work.

Overall, the document provides information about the CIA’s response to a FOIA request regarding audit peer-reviews and includes a report on the external peer review of the DIA’s Office of Inspector General, Audit Staff.

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Final Report on the External Peer Review of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Office of Inspector General, Audit Staff (2107-0022-AS) [6 Pages, 1.65MB]

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The post Uncovering the Secret Service Scandal: The Malia Litman FOIA Case and Revealed Documents first appeared on The Black Vault.

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The post CIA’s Certified Safety and Health Committee Reports first appeared on The Black Vault.

This study was conducted to determine if there are identifiable patterns or trends in incidents of serious Special Agent (SA) misconduct which, if discerned, might be of assistance in personnel selection and management.

This report is also referred to as the FBI’s “Beta Report”.

Document Archive

Special Agent Personnel Incident Review, Office of Program Evaluations and Audits, January 1983 [74 Pages, 25MB]

The post Special Agent Personnel Incident Review, Office of Program Evaluations and Audits, January 1983 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The following records were obtained from the CIA, and released in 2004. They were about the CIA’s museum.

Document Archive

CIA Museum Documents, Released 2004 [40 Pages, 29MB]

The post CIA Museum Documents, Released 2004 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Charles Monroe “Sparky” Schulz (November 26, 1922 – February 12, 2000) was an American cartoonist and creator of the comic strip Peanuts (which featured the characters Charlie Brown and Snoopy, among many others). He is widely regarded as one of the most influential cartoonists of all time, cited by cartoonists including Jim Davis, Bill Watterson, Matt Groening, and Dav Pilkey.

Below, you will find FBI files on Mr. Schulz as obtained by Mr. Kick. However, since that release, The Black Vault also got additional records with less redactions. Those can be downloaded here.

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FBI File: Charles Schulz [13 Pages, 4.5MB]

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The following records were obtained from the CIA, which dealt with the 2003 CIA recruitment video, wherein they cast Jennifer Garner (from television show Alias, at the time) to star.

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 Jennifer Garner and the CIA – 2003 Recruitment Video [15 Pages, 4MB]

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The post Jennifer Garner and the CIA – 2003 Recruitment Video first appeared on The Black Vault.

FBI Files on “Possible Arab Terroristic Activities – FBI File 105-HQ-186336 [246 Pages, 87MB]

The post FBI Files on “Possible Arab Terroristic Activities” – FBI File 105-HQ-186336 first appeared on The Black Vault.

DeLorean, John –  [175 Pages, 56MB] – John Zachary DeLorean (January 6, 1925 – March 19, 2005) was an American engineer, inventor, and executive in the U.S. automobile industry, widely known for his work at General Motors and as founder of the DeLorean Motor Company.

The post FBI Files on John DeLorean first appeared on The Black Vault.

Prisoner and Holding Facility Information, Island of Diego Garcia (2004 FOIA release) [31 Pages, 11.2MB]

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Emissions From Reactions in Nuclear Weapons, 29 June 1963 [85 Pages, 10.2MB]

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FBI Executive Conference Files / 1960-1974 [398 Pages, 178MB]

The post FBI Executive Conference Files / 1960-1974 (Russ Kick Collection) first appeared on The Black Vault.

Bacher, Robert –  [355 Pages, 146MB] – Robert Fox Bacher (August 31, 1905 – November 18, 2004) was an American nuclear physicist and one of the leaders of the Manhattan Project. Born in Loudonville, Ohio, Bacher obtained his undergraduate degree and doctorate from the University of Michigan, writing his 1930 doctoral thesis under the supervision of Samuel Goudsmit on the Zeeman effect of the hyperfine structure of atomic levels. After graduate work at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he accepted a job at Columbia University. In 1935 he accepted an offer from Hans Bethe to work with him at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, It was there that Bacher collaborated with Bethe on his book Nuclear Physics. A: Stationary States of Nuclei (1936), the first of three books that would become known as the “Bethe Bible”.

In December 1940, Bacher joined the Radiation Laboratory at MIT, although he did not immediately cease his research at Cornell into the neutron cross section of cadmium. The Radiation Laboratory was organized into two sections, one for incoming radar signals, and one for outgoing radar signals. Bacher was appointed to handle the incoming signals section. Here he gained valuable experience in administration, coordinating not just the efforts of his scientists, but also those of General Electric and RCA. In 1942, Bacher was approached by Robert Oppenheimer to join the Manhattan Project at its new laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico. It was at Bacher’s insistence that Los Alamos became a civilian rather than a military laboratory. At Los Alamos, Bacher headed the project’s P (Physics) Division, and later its G (Gadget) Division. Bacher worked closely with Oppenheimer, and the two men discussed the project’s progress on a daily basis.

The post FBI Files on Robert Bacher first appeared on The Black Vault.

 Wriston, Walter – [84 Pages, 32.3MB] – Walter Bigelow Wriston (August 3, 1919 – January 19, 2005) was a banker and former chairman and CEO of Citicorp. As chief executive of Citibank / Citicorp (later Citigroup) from 1967 to 1984, Wriston was widely regarded as the single most influential commercial banker of his time. During his tenure as CEO, the bank introduced, among other innovations, automated teller machines, interstate banking, the negotiable certificate of deposit, and “pursued the credit card business in a way that no other bank was doing at the time”. With then New York Governor Hugh Carey and investment banker Felix Rohatyn, Wriston helped save New York City from bankruptcy in the mid-1970s by setting up the Financial Control Board and the Municipal Assistance Corporation, and persuading the city’s union pension funds and banks to buy the latter corporation’s bonds.

For more “Historical Figure” FBI files, CLICK HERE.

The post FBI Files on Walter Wriston first appeared on The Black Vault.

 Wright, Nathan – [180 Pages, 27.2MB] – Dr. Nathan Wright was both an Episcopal minister and a scholar. A prominent advocate of black power, Wright shared the ideology of Stokely Carmichael and H. Rap Brown, leaders of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. He was both a participant and chronicler of the first Freedom Ride. At the National Conference on Black Power in Newark in 1967, Wright served as chairman of this pivotal meeting where the tactics of the civil rights movement changed from the demand for individual rights toward demands for group rights.

After his ordination in 1950, Nathan Wright fulfilled his parish ministry in a variety of capacities. He held diocesan and national positions which included six years’ service as an Associate in the Office of Stewardship. From 1964 to 1969, Wright served as executive director of the Department of Urban Work in the Diocese of Newark. A lifelong Republican and an avid supporter of Presidents Nixon and Reagan, he was highly educated, earning six degrees, among them a doctorate of education from Harvard and a master’s degree from Episcopal Theological School.

The post FBI Files on Nathan Wright, Jr. first appeared on The Black Vault.