Reference Number: No. 563-96
(703)695-0192(media)
(703)697-3189(copies)
(703)697-5737(public/industry)
October 1, 1996
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATIONAL IMAGERY AND MAPPING AGENCY ESTABLISHED
The National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) today joins
the ranks of the Department of Defense as the newest combat
support agency. Established by the National Imagery and Mapping
Agency Act of 1996, NIMA has a global mission and unique
responsibilities to manage and provide imagery and geospatial
information to national policy makers and military forces. In
recognition of its unique responsibilities and global mission,
NIMA is also established as a part of the U.S. Intelligence
Community.
NIMA brings together in a single organization the imagery
tasking, exploitation, production and dissemination
responsibilities and the mapping, charting and geodetic functions
of eight separate organizations of the Defense and Intelligence
communities. By providing comprehensive management of U.S.
imaging and geospatial capabilities, NIMA will improve support to
national and military customers alike.
NIMA's mission is to provide timely, relevant and accurate
imagery, imagery intelligence and geospatial information in
support of national security objectives. The agency's vision is
to guarantee the information edge--ready access to the world's
imagery, imagery intelligence and geospatial information.
NIMA incorporates the Defense Mapping Agency, the Central
Imagery Office, and the Defense Dissemination Program Office in
their entirety; and the mission and functions of CIA's National
Photographic Interpretation Center. These organizations are
disestablished effective today. Also included in NIMA are the
imagery exploitation, dissemination and processing elements of
the Defense Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office
and the Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office.
Navy Rear Admiral J.J. Dantone, Jr., formerly the director
of the Defense Mapping Agency and the director of the NIMA
Implementation Team, has been named acting director for the new
agency. Named as deputy directors are Leo Hazlewood
(Operations); Dr. Annette Krygiel (Systems and Technology) and W.
Douglas Smith (Corporate Affairs).
First among NIMA's core values is commitment to the
customer. NIMA consolidates activities and functions that will
permit employees to work with some of the latest technological
developments in computers, communications, digital imagery and
geospatial information. A major early thrust of the agency will
be to promote the use of commercial solutions within NIMA while
maintaining continued high levels of support to our military
forces and national policy makers.
Headquartered in Fairfax, Va., NIMA will operate major
facilities in the Northern Virginia, Washington, D. C., Bethesda,
Md. and St. Louis, Mo. areas with support and liaison offices
worldwide.
For further information, contact the NIMA Public Liaison
Office at 703-275-8409.
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