Future Directions Under the Central MASINT Organization's (CMO) leadership, MASINT is being operationalized through the creation of a U.S. MASINT System (USMS). The USMS will provide timely responses to consumer needs with the right resources and technology solutions during peace, natural disasters, crisis, or war. Changing threats, shifts in national priorities, new weapon technologies, and coalition environments dictate USMS capabilities be flexible and interoperable to effectively address diverse missions and unexpected challenges. A strong research and development (R&D) program characterized by constant innovation ensures the most cost effective and capable technologies to meet the varied MASINT missions. With recent advances in sensor, communication, and computing technologies, MASINT has great potential for expanding our collection capabilities against critical intelligence problems. CMO Responsibilities Provide responsive MASINT support to the Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, National Security Council, and other U.S. Government departments and agencies. Manage MASINT for the National Foreign Intelligence Program and DoD. Develop and implement MASINT architectures to foster equipment interoperability and functionality associated with MASINT tasking, collection, processing, exploitation, and dissemination. Provide guidance, oversight, and coordination of all appropriate research and development activities related to MASINT collection, processing, exploitation, and dissemination. Through a central MASINT tasking authority, task national MASINT collection assets of the Intelligence Community and DoD. Establish and maintain a National MASINT Requirements system. Coordinate MASINT exploitation activities among diverse national and DoD organizations. Advise the DCI and the Secretary of Defense on the adequacy of existing and potential systems to satisfy requirements for national and no-national MASINT. Ensure that MASINT systems participate in exercise involving support to U.S. military forces. Develop, recommend, and implement policy regarding MASINT tasking, collection, processing,exploitation, handling and dissemination. Develop and manage a MASINT training/education program with MASINT training standards that will significantly enhance MASINT awareness and utilization for critical mission needs. Intelligence Community Coordination The MASINT Committee is an Intelligence Community forum responsible for: Providing advice to DoD and IC Leadership Fostering technology and information exchange Supporting community coordination Developing policy and guidance for future programs Validating and prioritizing requirements Monitoring and evaluating requirements satisfaction MASINT Liaisons In keeping with the goal of operationalizing MASINT, CMO has established MASINT Liaison Officers at many of the U.S. Combatant Commands. For More Information Contact the CMO at: 703.907.0300