Citizen Writers Fighting Censorship by Helping Americans Understand Issues Affecting the Republic.
America’s Hunger Games Biden Nuclear Energy Secretary A Scene from The Hunger Games Samuel Brinton “I’m more than just a piece in their Games.” The Hunger Games In 2012 Americans flocked to the theater to witness the airing of a new dystopian film called The Hunger Games. In this post-apocalyptic feature, there are twelve districts …
The NRO FIA program continues to struggle on the optical side, while the radar and ground deliveries hum along. However, radar is no substitute for optical and as we close on demonstrating some uses that exemplify the value of radar while acknowledging such, FIA failure to deliver has brought the community to the brink of a Gap in capability.
Henry Ford creates the assembly line and Def Sec McNamara creates a DoD program budget methodology that works very well for many programs but is not a panacea in consideration of Moore’s law. Meanwhile the NRO FIA program keeps digging (spending) in an attempt to buy their way to completion.
Listening to Dr Fauci testimony to Congress was an interesting discussion. My take and speaking as a scientist I find that science is for sale. Having been in the science industry for many years (Since 1978) in fact science is an industry in want of funding. Unfortunately, we have brilliant people doing scientific work they …
A huge “tell” emerges in the Boeing FIA effort as a large number of parts are scrapped when tin is found in them, resulting in delays and cost. Does the government have the best available subject matter experts helping run the FIA program? Worst practices and cost continue.
How George Tenant became DCI, and Keith Hall Dir NRO: two former Senate Select Committee on Intelligence staff make good. The 4C1000 NRO History From 1962-1990.
A review of what you may have missed so far, as the costs pile up and ravage the IC budget like a wildfire and we review salient points about why.
NGA works requirements documentation and struggles with GEOSCOUT. The GAP Study Team finds a miracle in the Boeing proposal: the DNI makes a momentous decision.
FIA optical costs grow an order of magnitude, but schedule analytics barely estimate a 50% chance of delivery: but the IC funds projects at the expense of programs.
Red Sox break the curse of the Babe, Boeing proposes miracles in their proposal and the GAP Study focuses on the timing, extent and duration of the problem.
The Gap Study gains momentum, and we go down memory lane on a number of IC programs that exemplify how poor the acquisition record has been for a long time
FIA slips and cost overruns force DCI Tenant’s hand-he tasks the community to do a Gap Mitigation Assessment sparking a flurry of activity that will run through October 2002.
NRO FIA program struggles amid acquisition nuances and spiraling costs that wipe out a decade worth of promising technology programs from ~2004-2008 to pay the bill.
First 8 articles recap, Sputnik flies, U2 and SR-71 are developed, Corona project is the first space reconnaissance system, Doc’s space-time continuum is disrupted.
Digital imagery and digital signal processing become a “yuge deal,” the Army mans the DITB-DEMONS, and plans the TACIES System, later canceled by Richard Armitage leading to Desert Storm shortfalls.
Leaders versus managers in government, Blockbuster goes away, digital versus hard copy film challenges, firing directors impact the FIA procurement.
Clapper moves out on an Airborne Integration Plan; warfighter support is emphasized early on through tool investment, NIMA struggles to implement the plan.
NRO declassified, NIMA established, Clapper becomes NIMA Dir, USGIF Symposium and GEOINT Functional Manager role established. Murder of Tina Ricca shakes up national intelligence, NRO DIR Harris, and Dep DIR Jimmie D. Hill are fired
NGA Director Lt Gen (USAF, Ret) James R. Clapper is fired by SECDEF Rumsfeld for not toeing the party line, USDI Cambone finesses moving a lot of agency funding over to the DNI/NIP while pressing the case that they should stay under DoD, the Murder of Tina Ricca has a ripple effect in the National Intelligence Community that leads to the discovery of the new NRO building and the firing of leadership
We cannot expect salvation from any politician. We must restore our principles ourselves, and it starts with each of us individually.