About

The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), under the authorities of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) pursuant to Title 50, U.S. Code, serves as the primary organization for integrating and coordinating U.S. Government counterintelligence and security activities. NCSC organizes and leads strategic planning for counterintelligence activities by integrating the instruments of national power, as appropriate, to identify, assess, deter, detect, exploit, and mitigate foreign intelligence threats to the United States.

In support of the DNI’s security responsibilities, NCSC develops and coordinates enterprise security policies, standards, and guidance to protect classified information, sensitive facilities, personnel, information systems, and other national security assets. NCSC also advances counterintelligence and security awareness through engagement with Federal departments and agencies, academia, and the private sector to counter foreign intelligence threats and reduce security risks.

NCSC leads executive branch efforts to enhance personnel vetting, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the security clearance process, and promote a trusted national security workforce. NCSC also coordinates initiatives to strengthen insider risk programs, protect classified information, and promote the consistent implementation of security and counterintelligence policies across the executive branch.

Our Mission

The National Counterintelligence and Security Center leads proactive counterintelligence and security activities across the United States government, integrating the instruments of national power to detect, report, deter, disrupt, investigate, exploit, and defeat foreign intelligence threats.

Our Vision

The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) is dedicated to leading the U.S. Counterintelligence and Security communities, countering all threats posed by adversarial foreign intelligence affiliated threats and enhancing our national security posture at every level. We will serve as the head of U.S. counterintelligence and integrate the instruments of national power to counter foreign intelligence threats. NCSC will be the “center of gravity” to support the counterintelligence and security efforts of the entire U.S. interagency, and public sector initiatives to protect our nation from adversarial efforts to exploit the United States and victimize the American people.

Pursuant to 50 U.S.C. § 3383 and in support of the DNI’s Security Executive Agent responsibilities, NCSC advances national counterintelligence and security priorities through strategic analysis, policy development, and enterprise coordination. The Center develops and implements the National Counterintelligence Strategy; produces strategic assessments, including the National Threat Identification and Prioritization Assessment; coordinates counterintelligence collection and targeting activities; and conducts counterintelligence outreach, watch, and warning. NCSC also develops security policies, standards, and programs that strengthen personnel security, classified information protection, risk management, personnel vetting, security clearance modernization, and insider risk management across the executive branch.

Leadership

George “Wes” Street

Director of NCSC

George “Wes” Street serves as the Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center. In this capacity, Street leads the United States’ national counterintelligence priorities and supports the security efforts of the Intelligence Community (IC) and U.S. government.

James A. Cangialosi

Deputy Director of NCSC

James Cangialosi is the Deputy Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC)—a component of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)—which leads and supports the counterintelligence and security activities of the U.S. government.

Shawn Thornton

Executive Director of NCSC

Shawn M. Thornton serves as the Executive Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center. In this role, Mr. Thornton provides essential leadership for the nation’s counterintelligence priorities and supports critical security initiatives across the Intelligence Community and U.S. government.

History

2000

December 28, 2000: On December 28, 2000, Presidential Directive-75 established the National Counterintelligence Executive (NCIX) and related entities, acknowledging that the U.S. faced diverse threats from countries, non-state actors, and traditional adversaries. It aimed to create a predictive counterintelligence system with integration across national security agencies.

2002

November 2002: The Counterintelligence Enhancement Act of 2002 established the position of the NCIX into law and gave the office the unique authority to conduct outreach to the private sector and provide warning and awareness of intelligence threats to the public.

2003

July 2003: The 2002 Counterintelligence Enhancement Act placed the NCIX within the Executive Office of the President (EOP).

2004

December 2004: The Intelligence Reform & Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) created the position of Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and reorganized the NCIX into the ODNI.

2008

June 2008: E.O. 13467 designated the DNI as the Security Executive Agent responsible for oversight and policy for the vetting of national security personnel.

2010

September 2010: The ONCIX merged with the DNI’s Special Security Center and the CIA’s Center for Security Evaluation, unifying counterintelligence and security. This new, layered approach to foreign intelligence threats enhanced mission integration, strengthened national intelligence protection, and saved resources by consolidating common functions.

2011

October 2011: In response to the 2010 unauthorized disclosures of classified information to Wikileaks, E.O. 13587 directed the DNI and Attorney General to create a National Insider Threat Task Force. The NCIX and FBI were appointed to lead the task force and implement a government-wide program to detect, deter, and mitigate insider threats.

2013

January 2013: The Foreign and Economic Espionage Penalty Enhancement Act followed ONCIX’s 2011 report, “Foreign Spies Stealing U.S. Economic Secrets in Cyberspace,” which first publicly named China and Russia as persistent cyber threats. This report increased congressional focus on economic espionage, leading to legislation with harsher prison sentences and fines.

2014

December 2014: The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) was formally established.

2016

April 2016: The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 was enacted into law, elevating the NCSC Director position to be subject to Presidential nomination and Senate confirmation.

Resources

NCSC delivers counterintelligence and security resources for stakeholders across government, industry, and academia to protect national interests across multiple sectors.