Counterintelligence Field Activity

The mission of the Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA) is "identification and tracking of terrorists and production of CI threat assessments and advisories and risk assessments in support of DoD force protection and critical infrastructure protection efforts, and tailored analytical and data-mining support to DoD CI field elements and agencies and the Service secretaries. These 'knowledge products' provide a foundation for actions that can be taken to mitigate risks and enhance the security of U.S. persons, and critical operations, resources, and technologies. Central to CIFA operations is close collaboration and partnering with other organizations in the national intelligence and investigative community. CIFA is now furnishing a counterintelligence support team to assist the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)-led Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force and is orchestrating the permanent assignment of DoD law enforcement and counterintelligence agents and analysts to the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Forces throughout the United States. These personnel will collect and analyze terrorist threat and criminal information and participate in the investigation of international terrorist incidents having a DoD link."


 * "CIFA has a significant role to play, given its unique tools, technology, data exploitation capabilities, and experience in identifying previously unknown or suspected terrorists."


 * "CIFA provides terrorist threat tracking support to a Justice Department effort, with personnel of both organizations working side-by-side."


 * "DoD Force Protection Detachments. Established as a direct result of the COLE Commission findings and under the cognizance of CIFA, these detachments will be located in twenty locations worldwide, where DoD personnel and units regularly transit but where DoD does not maintain a permanent presence."

CIFA is part of the Strategic Intelligence Directorate (SCID).

Expansion of authority
"The White House is considering expanding the power of a little-known Pentagon agency called the Counterintelligence Field Activity, or CIFA, which was created three years ago. The proposal, made by a presidential commission, would transform CIFA from an office that coordinates Pentagon security efforts -- including protecting military facilities from attack -- to one that also has authority to investigate crimes within the United States such as treason, foreign or terrorist sabotage or even economic espionage," Walter Pincus reported November 27, 2005, in the Washington Post.

Counterintelligence and Law Enforcement Center
"To execute the responsibilities and functions assigned under paragraph 6.2.9 of DoD Directive 5105.67, the Director of the Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA) has formed a Counterintelligence and Law Enforcement Center (CILEC) to provide continuous situational awareness of ongoing DoD counterintelligence and law enforcement activities throughout the world. The CIFA Chief Information Officer (CIO) is charged with providing an information technology enterprise that enables the Director to execute all of the responsibilities and functions assigned by DoD Directive 5105.67."

Records source categories
"Investigative, operational, and/or analytical files of DoD and other Federal agencies with counterintelligence, intelligence, law enforcement, security, protective, or related responsibilities. Information collected by CIFA from public or commercial sources in compliance with DoD authorities."

Access procedure
"Individuals seeking to determine whether information about themselves is contained in this system of records should address written inquiries to the Privacy and Freedom of Information Coordinator, Counterintelligence Field Activity, 251 18th Street, Suite 1200, Arlington, VA 22202–3537. Requests should contain the individual’s name, date of birth, sufficient information to determine the type of records being sought, and the approximate date the records might have been created."

CIFA defense contractors

 * "Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA)/Joint Counterintelligence Assessment Group (JCAG) Analysis System (JAS) Integration," Harris Corporation.
 * News Release: "Unisys Awarded Five-Year Agreement with Potential Value of up to $345 Million with U.S. Department of Defense's Counterintelligence Field Activity," Unisys Corporation, April 7, 2004.
 * "ISS to develop Counterintelligence Common Operating Picture. Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA) awards ISS contract," Intelligence Software Solutions, Inc., October 26, 2005.

SourceWatch articles

 * civil liberties
 * COINTELPRO
 * counterintelligence community
 * domestic spying
 * George W. Bush's domestic spying
 * homeland defense
 * homeland security
 * information warfare
 * intelligence community
 * Lt. Gen. James C. King
 * MZM Inc.
 * National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
 * Patriot Act I
 * Randy "Duke" Cunningham
 * U.S. Northern Command

External articles

 * Secrecy News: "'Drastic' Domestic Military Changes; 'Serious' Intelligence Reform," Military.com, March 9, 2004.
 * patriotboy, "About CIFA," inner frenchman, July 19, 2004.
 * S. Rowan Wolf, "What Is Counterintelligence Field Activity?" Uncommon Thought, February 2, 2005.
 * "APA Summer Research Fellows in DoD Counterintelligence," American Psychological Association / gradPSYCH, Volume 3, Number 3, September 2005.
 * Bob P., "End run," The Hue and Cry, November 28, 2005.
 * Man on the street, "The U.S. Military sees you as a threat," Portland Indymedia, November 28, 2005. Scroll down for comments.
 * Tim Howells, "How our governments use terrorism to control us," Online Journal, November 28, 2005.
 * William M. Arkin, "Domestic Military Intelligence Is Back. Code Name of the Week: Cornerstone," Washington Post, November 29, 2005.
 * Walter Pincus, "Pentagon's Intelligence Authority Widens. Fact Sheet Details Secretive Agency's Growth From Focus on Policy to Counterterrorism," Washington Post, December 19, 2005.
 * Michael Isikoff, "The Other Big Brother", Newsweek, January 30, 2006.
 * Walter Pincus, "Pentagon Agency's Contracts Reviewed," Washington Post, March 3, 2006.
 * Walter Pincus, "Counterintelligence Officials Resign," Washington Post, August 10, 2006. re David A. Burtt II, Director, Counterintelligence Field Activity, and Joseph Hefferon ("also decided to retire, after over 31 years of federal service").

Timelines & chronologies

 * Marcy Wheeler, "Cunningham, CIFA, and Cheney, a New Chronology," The Next Hurrah Blog, July 24, 2007.

Reports & documents

 * Presidential Decision Directive (PDD): "U.S. Counterintelligence Effectiveness – Counterintelligence for the 21st Century," January 5, 2001; (posted by Federation of American Scientists).
 * Department of Defense Directive Number 5105.67. SUBJECT: Department of Defense Counterintelligence Field Activity (DoD CIFA), February 19, 2002; FAS; This DD established "the Department of Defense Counterintelligence Field Activity with the mission, responsibilities, functions, relationships, and authorities, as prescribed herein."
 * Executive Order 13292: Further Amendment to Executive Order 12958, as Amended, Classified National Security Information, March 25, 2003; FAS.
 * Report to the President, Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction, March 31, 2005; Chapter 11: "Counterintelligence": "The Department of Defense’s Counterintelligence Field Activity assume operational and investigative authority to coordinate and conduct counterintelligence activities throughout the Defense Department: ..."
 * Report to Congress on The Role of the Department of Defense in Supporting Homeland Security," required by FY 2003 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Section 1404, September 2003.
 * Systems of records, Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records, Department of Defense. Published in the Federal Register, February 25, 2005. "The Office of the Secretary of Defense proposes to add an exempt system of records to its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended." According to the Federal Register, February 25, 2005, "The changes will be effective on March 28, 2005 unless comments are received that would result in a contrary determination."
 * "The Pentagon's Counterspies: The Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA) - Documents Describe Organization and Operations of Controversial Agency and Database," National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 230, edited by Jeffrey Richelson, released September 17, 2007.