Because it has clients beyond the boundaries of the U.S. Department of Defense, this agency was originally designated as a part of the broader U.S. Intelligence Community. The formation of this agency centralized imagery and mapping responsibilities, a step toward achieving the Department of Defense’s so-called mission of “dominant battle space awareness.” This agency was developed to capitalize on enhanced collection systems, digital processing technology, and the future growth in commercial imagery. Its goal was to provide up-to-date, accurate, and important intelligence of a geospatial nature to support the national security of the United States. The objectives of NGA remain as originally created.

See Also: Intelligence; U.S. Intelligence Community.