1. One Team Revolutionizing
National Security
Global Reconnaissance
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is a joint organization
engaged in the research and development, acquisition, launch, and
operation of overhead reconnaissance systems necessary to meet the
needs of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) and the Department of
Defense (DOD). The NRO conducts other activities as directed by the
Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence.
Satellite imagery of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (furnished by NASA)
T he National Security Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and
other NRO mission partners produce finished intelligence products derived
from NRO data for the President, Congress, and other national policymakers;
war fighters; and civil users.
Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, the NRO provides global access to
intelligence, richer information content and timelines responsive to user needs.
Each day, NRO systems provide critical, life-saving national security data.
Military Support: The NRO collaborates with other defense and intelli-
gence community organizations to provide global communications, indications
and warnings, and near real-time imagery and signals intelligence support to
war fighter operations and around the world. The NRO’s mission partners are
increasingly fusing data from NRO systems with other sources to enhance the
value of intelligence for U.S. and allied forces in harm’s way.
Civil Support: Civilian customers use NRO overhead systems to predict
climate change, assess crop production, map habitats of endangered species,
track oil spills, and study wetlands, as well as assess devastation from hur-
ricanes, fires, floods, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. The develop-
ment of HDTV, wide-bandwidth communications, high-resolution pixel arrays,
and high-speed data switching also grew from NRO technologies.
NRO’s unique workforce consists of personnel from the DOD, IC and Technicians build NRO satellite (image courtesy - National Reconnaissance Office)
private industry. The Air Force and CIA comprise the majority of military and
NROL-30 launch (Image courtesy of NRO)
civilian government populations, respectively. The advanced reconnaissance
systems, which NRO develops and operates, require a special cadre of
highly talented, dedicated scientists, aerospace engineers, communications
specialists, computer scientists, and acquisitions managers.
The NRO continues to develop cutting-edge, innovative systems to meet
America’s security needs and support national and tactical customers, in
peace and war, with lower cost, enhanced, collection and processing capabil-
ity. Based on a set of core operating principles, including a commitment to
mission accomplishment, a strong Government-industry partnership, customer
satisfaction, teamwork, diversity and creativity, the NRO is defining the term
“assured access to space.”
NRO Support to DoD Operation Warfighter: The NRO is an active
supporter of the Department of Defense-sponsored Operation Warfighter
(OWF), a temporary assignment/internship program for Service members
rehabilitating at military treatment facilities in the National Capital Region.
NRO has identified more than 70 government internship positions for OWF-
wounded warriors. Assignments offer unique job opportunities, professional
training, career growth, and personal development. At the NRO, interns have
the opportunity to work in an integrated Intelligence environment on highly
classified national security programs.
OWF represents a great opportunity for Service members on medical
hold to build their resumes, explore employment interests, develop job skills,
and gain valuable federal government work experience that will help prepare
them for the future. The program simultaneously enables participating federal
agencies to avail themselves of the considerable talent and dedication of these
recuperating Service members.
www.NRO.gov
Tel +1.703.808.1198
NRO Headquarters in Chantilly, Virginia (image courtesy - National Reconnaissance Office)
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