U.S. National Security Agency

The biggest and allegedly the most secret of the intelligence agencies in the United States. Headquartered in Maryland, the NSA protects government communications and intercepts foreign communications.

The birth of the Intelligence Community in the United States dates back to1947 with the passage of the National Security Act. Before then, the Departments of War, State, and Navy completed their own intelligence functions without having the advantages of a coordinated national organization. With the passage of the National Security Act and other Executive Orders, intelligence functions were consolidated under the Director of Central Intelligence. On November 1, 1952, the U.S. National Security Agency was formed by a Presidential memorandum, and in 1971, the Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) elements of the different departments’ intelligence services were consolidated under the Central Security Service.

See Also: National Security Agency (NSA); U.S. Intelligence Community.