KENNETH A. MINIHAN Lieutenant General, USAF Director, NSA/Chief, CSS |
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) has a proud
tradition of serving the nation -- a world performance organization by any
standard. The innovative ideas and concepts of our predecessors in the 1950s
and 1960s crafted an architecture that supported the national strategy through
the 1980s and helped win the Cold War. Today, we are at a critical turning
point in our nation's history, not unlike that immediately after World War
II. The decisions we make today will shape our nation's strategy and future
for years to come. The post-Cold War era is characterized by a diffusion of power, geopolitical uncertainties, and technology-driven change. An information revolution is sweeping the world, forcing change as radical as that caused by development of the atomic bomb. Just as control of industrial technology was key to military and economic power during the past two centuries, control of information technology will be key to power in the 21st Century. The Information Age presents us with enormous challenges and opportunities. Our core competencies are the same technologies needed to exploit and protect information. However, we must reengineer our traditional approach to signals intelligence and information systems security if we are to remain relevant and play a leading role as key offensive and defensive components of a new national effort dedicated to a single goal -- information superiority for America. This strategic plan charts our course to achieve this noble end. No one will work harder as a single team -- we will think in new ways and strengthen our relationships with our customers and partners. We will employ the same innovativeness, farsightedness, and exceptional dedication to duty that typified our predecessors. Our guiding principle will be to provide and protect vital information for our national leadership and joint warfighting teams -- on time, anytime, anywhere -- GUARANTEED! I am confident we are prepared to meet the challenges of the future.
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