Earlier today, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, with my concurrence, announced that DIA Deputy Director Letitia A. Long will be the next director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Ms. Long, whose transition is expected in summer 2010, will be the first woman to head a major intelligence agency.

Ms. Long's historic appointment reflects her 32 years of exceptional government service, including more than two decades in the Intelligence Community. She is highly respected throughout the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense. Her strong leadership skills and understanding of the entire intelligence enterprise will ensure that NGA continues to deliver outstanding information to policymakers and operators in support of our national security objectives.

I congratulate current NGA Director VADM Murrett for his outstanding leadership these past four years.

The following message by Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair was sent to employees of the United States Intelligence Community regarding the observance of Black History Month:

Colleagues:

This month we celebrate the many contributions of Black Americans to our nation, including those who have served and are serving in the Intelligence Community (IC). As we explore the history and culture of Black Americans, we also discover the triumph of leaders, predecessors, colleagues, and friends who have made notable accomplishments along a path marked by civil rights challenges.

Dallas C. Brown, Jr. was a Black American U.S. Army Military Intelligence (MI) leader of distinction. As a Colonel, he commanded Field Station Berlin, one of the premier Cold War Signals Intelligence centers. He was subsequently promoted to Brigadier General in 1978, becoming the first Black American in MI to reach that rank.

Dr. Ralph Johnson Bunche, an accomplished, greatly admired and respected diplomat, civil rights advocate, and educator, served for three years, from 1941 through 1944, in the initial months of the Office of the Coordinator of Information (COI). The COI became the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) - the precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency. Dr. Bunche, an assistant professor at Harvard, was hand picked by COI personnel to become a special analyst focused on the British Empire territories' African affairs. He assessed early on what was in store for Africa - the emergence and intensification of African nationalism, a "force to be reckoned with," and the expulsion of colonial powers. In 1944, he moved to the State Department, where he became a highly effective, widely respected, and prominent U.S. and United Nations diplomat.

In U.S. history, Black Americans have fought in every war, and recognition of their sacrifice and courage was delayed until recent years. Our most recent Black American heroes, who made the ultimate sacrifice in support of the IC mission, will be recognized with etched stars on the Memorial Wall at the Central Intelligence Agency.

Our current President, Barack Obama, exemplifies the strides made by Black Americans. His legacy as our nation's first Black President is celebrated along with the legacies of other Black Americans who were firsts in their fields - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Frederick Douglas, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Oprah Winfrey, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Ray Charles, Muhammad Ali, Bill Cosby, and many more.

In celebrating Black History Month, we recognize t?he diverse perspectives of Black Americans and embrace their rich cultural, educational, social, and political contributions, which are essential to our success in advancing the IC mission.

Dennis C. Blair

The protection of confidential information is essential to strong, effective security and intelligence cooperation among allies. The decision by a United Kingdom court to release classified information provided by the United States is not helpful, and we deeply regret it.

The United States and the United Kingdom have a long history of close cooperation that relies on mutual respect for the handling of classified information. This court decision creates additional challenges, but our two countries will remain united in our efforts to fight against violent extremist groups.

Chairman Jack Murtha was a friend of the men and women of the Intelligence Community. He cared about our work and asked insightful questions to be sure we had the resources required to support policymakers, the military and the acquisition community. Chairman Murtha was a patriot in the truest sense: he worked for a strong America, and he devoted time to meeting with wounded veterans and deployed forces. His keen intellect and strategic focus forced intelligence professionals to work harder and smarter and to look down the road to prepare for tomorrow's challenges. The Intelligence Community has lost a dear friend.

The article published by Politico today regarding testimony of the Director of National Intelligence before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence is inaccurate and irresponsible. The DNI did not criticize the Administration in any way - the assertion that he did is simply wrong.

The DNI stated that the combination of reality and politics regarding the December 25 attempted terrorist attack is surprising and that the Intelligence Community is trying to bring intelligence and law enforcement to bear on those who threaten our country. To suggest that his statement is a "blast" at the White House distorts words clearly spoken and seeks to create a conflict where none exists.

My remarks today before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs have been misconstrued. The FBI interrogated Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab when they took him into custody. They received important intelligence at that time, drawing on the FBI's expertise in interrogation that will be available in the HIG once it is fully operational.

The following message by Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair was sent to employees of the United States Intelligence Community on the occasion of the commemoration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

Colleagues:

On April 16, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a renowned African American civil rights leader, wrote a letter that is considered a cornerstone of the civil rights movement. From his jail cell in Birmingham, Alabama where he was arrested for his part in a planned non-violent protest against racial segregation, Dr. King responded to his critics, maintaining that without non-violent, forceful, direct actions such as his, true civil rights could never be achieved. This outstanding leader and devoted philanthropist delivered over 2,500 speeches against racial injustice, and authored five books and numerous articles that addressed civil rights. In 1964 at the age of 35, Dr. King won the Nobel Peace Prize. For 11 years - from 1957 until his assassination in 1968 - Dr. King led the civil rights movement and paved the way for equality.

Forty years after Dr. King's death, Barack Obama, elected as the first African American U.S. President, was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. During his acceptance speech in Oslo, Norway, the President recognized Dr. King's leadership in civil rights and said that the movement "helped put the wind behind the sails." President Obama credited the civil rights movement as being largely responsible for his and the First Lady's presence in Oslo that evening.

Dr. King believed in world peace and respect and inclusion of all people. Today, as we celebrate the birthday of Dr. King and reflect upon his extraordinary life and legacy, we must renew our commitment to the ideal that we will not judge people by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Indeed, our IC mission depends upon our ability to build an agile and diverse workforce that values differences among individuals.

The importance of leadership's commitment to and active support of diversity cannot be overstated. Diversity is one of our greatest strengths and a mission critical imperative. Employing and retaining a diverse workforce in its broadest context - cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, heritage, race, gender, generations, orientation, abilities and ideas - is essential to addressing increasingly complex national security threats. Our workforce needs to mirror our nation and the world within which we operate.

Today we celebrate Dr. King's legacy and sacrifice; a lifetime that he so bravely and selflessly gave for a better world. Today, we come together to embrace and celebrate one Nation, one Mission, one Equality.

Dennis C. Blair

The group will review the Dec. 25 bombing attempt by alleged terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab aboard Northwest Flight 253, and the Nov. 5 shootings at Fort Hood, allegedly carried out by Army Maj. Nidal Hasan. The DNI has requested a careful examination of the sequence of events leading up to both incidents, as well as proposals to remedy potential weaknesses in intelligence systems and procedures that these incidents exposed.

"John McLaughlin is especially well-qualified to lead an independent assessment in this area and provide candid, constructive guidance to improve our future performance," Blair said. "I am pleased that his more than three decades of experience and wide range of leadership responsibilities in intelligence will once again be put to use in service to our country. I thank him for accepting this assignment, and look forward to receiving the results of his work."

The President has completed his preliminary review and briefed the nation regarding the Abdulmutallab attempted terrorist attack on December 25. He has directed me to lead the Intelligence Community's work in improving our procedures and systems to detect and prevent a similar attempt from succeeding.

That Mr. Abdulmutallab boarded Northwest Flight 253 for Detroit was a failure of the counterterrorism system. We had strategic intelligence that al Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) had the intention of taking action against the United States. We did not direct more resources against AQAP, nor insist that the watchlisting criteria be adjusted. The Intelligence Community analysts who were working hard on immediate threats to Americans in Yemen did not understand the fragments of intelligence on what turned out later to be Mr. Abdulmutallab, so they did not push him onto the "no fly" list.

We will take a fresh and penetrating look at strengthening both human and technical performance and do what we have to do in all areas. I have specifically been tasked to oversee and manage work in four areas:

• Assigning clear lines of responsibility for investigating all leads on high-priority threats, so they are pursued more aggressively;
• Distributing intelligence reports more quickly and widely, especially those suggesting specific threats against the U.S.;
• Applying more rigorous standards to analytical tradecraft to improve intelligence integration and action; and
• Enhancing the criteria for adding individuals to the terrorist watchlist and "no fly" watchlist.

While the December 25 attempt exposed improvement needs and flaws in coordination, it did not expose weakness in the concepts of intelligence reform or suggest that its progress should be redirected. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) and the progress of the past five years will continue to guide our future improvements.

As the White House review stated, "the work by America's counterterrorism (CT) community has had many successes since 9/11 that should be applauded... On a great number of occasions since 9/11, many of which the American people will never know about, the tremendous, hardworking corps of analysts across the CT community did just that, working day and night to track terrorist threats and run down possible leads in order to keep their fellow Americans safe." I strongly agree. The review also recognizes the barriers to information sharing that existed just five years ago, which we have worked so hard to dismantle, have indeed been broken down.

The job of collecting, analyzing, and integrating information on a global scale is difficult, and this community performs that work at high levels every day. We will sustain our dedication and professionalism to the tasks we now face. We will leverage this challenge to emerge even stronger and more able to provide the support to national security that President Obama hailed as critical to our future.

We will meet this challenge. I am confident that together we will deliver to the President the improvements he has called for.

Dennis C. Blair

The Intelligence Community has made considerable progress in developing collection and analysis capabilities and improving collaboration, but we need to strengthen our ability to stop new tactics such as the efforts of individual suicide terrorists. The threat has evolved, and we need to anticipate new kinds of attacks and improve our ability to stay ahead of them and protect America.

We can and we must outthink, outwork and defeat the enemy's new ideas. The Intelligence Community will do that as directed by the President, working closely with our nation's entire national security team.