Department of Homeland Security, National Applications Office (NAO)
Department of Homeland Security, National Applications Office (NAO) : "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) National Applications Office (NAO) is the executive agent to facilitate the use of intelligence community technological assets for civil, homeland security and law enforcement purposes within the United States. The office will begin initial operation by fall 2007 and will build on the long-standing work of the Civil Applications Committee, which was created in 1974 to facilitate the use of the capabilities of the intelligence community for civil, non-defense uses in the United States. "While civil users are well supported for purposes such as monitoring volcanic activity, environmental and geological changes, hurricanes, and floods through the current Civil Applications Committee, homeland security and law enforcement will also benefit from access to Intelligence Community capabilities. As a principal interface between the Intelligence Community and the Civil Applications, Homeland Security and Law Enforcement Domains, the National Applications Office will provide more robust access to needed remote sensing information to appropriate customers by: (1) Enabling a wide spectrum of civil applications, homeland security, and law enforcement users greater access to the collection, analysis, and production skills and capabilities of the intelligence community; (2) Enhancing intelligence and information sharing and dissemination to federal, state, and local government and law enforcement users; (3) Educating customers about the capabilities and products of the intelligence community; (4) Advocating future collection technology needs of the civil applications, homeland security and law enforcement customers in the intelligence community and Department of Defense forums; and (5) Providing a forum for discussion of proper use oversight and management of new uses of classified information on behalf of domains, in addition to already established uses". (DHS, Fact Sheet: National Applications Office, August 15, 2007)
No records Found