The United States uses seventeen different agencies to gather intelligence.
Have you read about them in the news lately? They are hard at work keeping America safe.
And that might work out really well, or not so much in your next novel - whether you are reading one or writing one.
1. Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Created by Congress in response to the 9-11 terrorist attacks
Coordinates intelligence collection and sharing among U.S. intelligence agencies.
The director is the one who heads of the intelligence community is the principal advisor to the president, National Security Council, and Homeland Security Council on national security intelligence matters.
2.Central Intelligence Agency
They collect intelligence data abroad.
3. National Security Agency
Once referred to as “No Such Agency”
Technologically sophisticated.
Focuses on signals intelligence
Cracks secret codes.
It also protects U.S. information systems from outside penetration.
Oversees PRISM and other mass surveillance programs exposed bySnowden .
Hires math geeks :)
4. Defense Intelligence Agency
Pentagon’s top spy agency
Responsible for collecting and analyzing intelligence on foreign militaries
The DIA shares this information with military leaders, fighters and defense policy makers in order to “prevent and decisively win wars.”
5. Federal Bureau of Investigation
The FBI has both law enforcement and intelligence functions. (Unlike the CIA that only does intelligence.)
Works to protect the U.S. against terrorism, cyberattacks and foreign intelligence operations and espionage.
Maintains the government’s terrorist watch list
Sometimes the over lapping roles makes them clash with the CIA but that's why there's Iniquus!
6. Department of State – Bureau of Intelligence and Research
This bureau collects and analyzes intelligence on global affairs
They advise the secretary of State and other diplomats.
Conducts foreign opinion polls and tracks and analyzes issues that may undermine U.S. foreign policy including
weapons proliferation
human trafficking
drug smuggling.
7. Department of Homeland Security – Office of Intelligence and Analysis
Emergency preparedness
Border control
Transportation security
Biodefense (Like Ebola)
8. Drug Enforcement Administration – Office of National Security Intelligence
Illegally manufactured, distributed or dispensed.
Responsible for the seizure and forfeiture of assets connected withdrug trafficking.
9. Department of the Treasury – Office of Intelligence and Analysis -focuses on:
Sanctioned countries
Money launderers
Terrorists
Drug kingpins
Works to keep weapons of mass destruction sellers from using U.S. financial system.
10. Department of Energy – Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence
Technical intelligence on:
foreign nuclear weapons
energy security
science and technology
nuclear energy
11. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
I talk about GIS in my books Relic and Deadlock both in my Uncommon Enemies series.
Support the Defense Department
provides of geospatial intelligence “GEOINT” for
combat
humanitarian and disaster relief
border security
transportation security
security planning for special events.
12. National Reconnaissance Office
Declassified in 1992.
Designs, builds and operates the nation’s reconnaissance satellites
Provides
navigation
early warning of missile launches
(near) real-time imagery
survey natural disatser
Environmental research - This was in my book DEADLOCK
13. Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
25th Air Force,
"Uses airplanes, drones and satellites to identify hideouts, bunkers, mobile launchers and weapons caches." (1)
Code-breaking (within the Air Force).
14. Army Military Intelligence
15. Office of Naval Intelligence
16. Marine Corps Intelligence
17. Coast Guard Intelligence
Both military and the Department of Homeland Security
Covers more than 100,000 miles of coastline and inland waterways.
Helps with criminal investigations
Povides other agencies with intelligence from
domestic and foreign ports
coastal waters
Oceanic waters
I hope you find the right intelligence agency for your novel! Having information come in front different agncies might just be the twist your plot needs to make it interesting.
This article is based on the work and research of LA Times - please read more HERE