INSCOM’s Intel Oversight and Compliance Office Protects Privacy

FORT BELVOIR, Va. – Intelligence Oversight and compliance is a serious responsibility to ensure the U.S. Army works within the law and balances collecting essential information while protecting individuals’ rights and privacy.

The Army is responsible for coordinating policies and programs for Army intelligence and intelligence oversight, planning and supervising the execution of those policies and programs, and coordinating with groups inside and outside of the U.S. Intelligence Community for oversight.

The U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) Intelligence Oversight and Compliance Office (IOCO) and Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) offices are at the forefront of conducting intelligence activities and protecting Constitutional rights of U.S. persons, overseeing INSCOM’s efforts to protect privacy and civil liberties through sound policies, training, and technology use and development.

“INSCOM's adherence to intelligence oversight processes is essential to building trust with our civilian leadership and the American people,” said Karl Neal, INSCOM’s senior Intelligence Oversight officer. “Leaders at all levels, and every employee, work hard to ensure we protect the rights and civil liberties of all Americans. INSCOM sets the standard for Intelligence Oversight compliance across the Army.”

Department of Defense (DoD) regulation DODD 5148.11, defines Intelligence Oversight (IO) as, "The process of independently ensuring all DoD intelligence, counterintelligence, and intelligence-related activities are conducted in accordance with applicable U.S. law, Executive Orders, Presidential directives, and DoD issuances designed to balance the requirement for acquisition of essential information by the Intelligence Community, and the protection of Constitutional and statutory rights of U.S. persons.”

IO also includes the “identification, investigation, and reporting of questionable intelligence activities and significant or highly sensitive matters involving intelligence activities."

Per Executive Order 12333 and delegated authorities through the Secretary of the Army, INSCOM is charged with obtaining timely, accurate, and insightful information about the activities, capabilities, plans, and intentions of foreign powers, organizations, and their agents, and is essential to the national security of the United States.

IO is an essential part of INSCOM’s reasonable and lawful activities to ensure that the United States will receive the best intelligence possible.

"Through caring and involved leadership at all levels, INSCOM maintains a recognized culture of compliance, ensuring proper conduct of all lawful intelligence activities," said William Prusak, INSCOM’s Intelligence Oversight and Compliance advisor.

While INSCOM conducts lawful intelligence activities, leaders at all levels must ensure intelligence activities are conducted in a manner which protects the Constitutional and legal rights, as well as the privacy and civil liberties of U.S. persons.

“INSCOM performs this 'balancing act' of conducting intelligence activities while protecting Constitutional rights through direct leadership emphasis, training, and maintaining a culture of compliance ensuring public trust,” said Prusak.

INSCOM has an Intelligence Oversight and Compliance enterprise consisting of commanders/leaders, intelligence oversight officers (IOOs), and legal professionals all ensuring that the command properly conducts intelligence, protects Constitutional rights, and maintains public trust.

INSCOM assigns IO professionals at all levels of the command to enforce the rubric of relevant, mission-specific training, yearly compliance inspections and assessments, as well as, robust and timely reporting of events, known as questionable intelligence activities, upon occurrence.

The IOOs conduct mission-specific training tailored to a specific intelligence discipline, as dictated by the command's mission. Training consists of vignettes and examples in order to gain a shared understanding of issues. They also conduct relevant Intelligence Oversight, Civil Liberties and Privacy training at all levels of the command and on all networks, while also conducting Intelligence Oversight training in live, face-to-face environments.

IOCO conducts robust and recurring compliance inspections of all units across the command, including teaching, training and mentoring unit members during inspections.

Headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, INSCOM executes mission command of operational intelligence and security forces; conducts, synchronizes, and integrates worldwide multi-discipline and all-source intelligence and security operations; and delivers linguist support and intelligence related advanced skills training, acquisition support, logistics, communications, and other specialized capabilities in support of Army, Joint, and Coalition commands and the U.S. Intelligence Community.