View source for National Security Operations Center

{{Short description|Operations center at the NSA}}
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[[File:NSOC-2012.jpg|thumb|right|National Security Operations Center (NSOC) in 2012]]

The '''National Security Operations Center''' ('''NSOC''') or '''Directorate K''' is the part of the United States [[National Security Agency]] responsible for current operations and time-sensitive [[signals intelligence]] (SIGINT) reporting for the [[United States SIGINT System ]](USSS).<ref>[http://www.nsa.gov/public_info/_files/cryptologic_spectrum/nsoc.pdf Cryptologic Spectrum: "The National SIGINT Operations Center", Summer 1979 - Vol. 9, No. 3] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527224956/http://www.nsa.gov/public_info/_files/cryptologic_spectrum/nsoc.pdf |date=May 27, 2010 }}</ref> It is one of two centers watching; the other being Directorate V or the NTOC which assesses threats.

==Functions==

NSOC is an operations center on a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week basis, providing total situational awareness across the NSA/CSS enterprise for both foreign Signals Intelligence and Information Assurance, maintaining cognizance of national security information needs, and monitoring unfolding world events.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130807200627/http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA501547 National Intelligence - a consumer's guide] (PDF) 2009, p. 34.</ref>

==History==
[[File:National Security Operations Center photograph, c. 1985 - National Cryptologic Museum - DSC07661.JPG|thumb|right|National SIGINT Operations Center (NSOC) circa 1985]]
In 1969, a [[U.S. Navy]] [[EC-121]] patrol plane was [[EC-121 shootdown incident|shot down]] over the [[Sea of Japan]]. In the ensuing hours, NSA leaders raced from office to office to gather the information necessary to assemble a coordinated response for the agency and national leadership.  This incident demonstrated the need for a dedicated watch center to respond to breaking world events.

The NSA Assistant Director for Production (ADP) at that time, [[John E. Morrison, Jr.]], proposed to the Director of NSA ([[DIRNSA]]) that a single National SIGINT watch center be established.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Maj Gen John E. Morrison, Jr., USAF > National Security Agency {{!}} Central Security Service > Article View|url = https://www.nsa.gov/About-Us/Current-Leadership/Article-View/Article/1622998/maj-gen-john-e-morrison-jr-usaf/|website = nsa.gov|accessdate = 2019-12-12|archive-date = December 12, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191212130157/https://www.nsa.gov/About-Us/Current-Leadership/Article-View/Article/1622998/maj-gen-john-e-morrison-jr-usaf/|url-status = dead}}</ref>  The center was established in 1968 as the National SIGINT Watch Center (NSWC) and was renamed into National SIGINT Operations Center (NSOC) in 1973. This "nerve center of the NSA" got its current name in 1996.<ref>Top Level Telecommunications: [http://electrospaces.blogspot.com/2012/12/pictures-at-nsas-60th-anniversary.html Pictures at the NSA's 60th anniversary]</ref>

After the [[September 11 attacks|September 11, 2001 attacks]], the NSOC's mission was broadened from a watch center to the operations center it is today.

==See also==
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*[[Defense Special Missile & Astronautics Center]] (DEFSMAC)
*[[National Military Command Center]] (NMCC)
*[[National Reconnaissance Operations Center]] (NROC)
*[[NSA/CSS Threat Operations Center]] (NTOC)
*[[White House Situation Room]]

==References==
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170124133955/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP90-00965R000402820015-3.pdf The Target is Destroyed]

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[[Category:1972 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Computer security organizations]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1972]]
[[Category:Mass surveillance]]
[[Category:National Security Agency]]
[[Category:Signals intelligence agencies]]
[[Category:Supercomputer sites]]
[[Category:United States Department of Defense agencies]]
[[Category:United States government secrecy]]


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