Farragut Technical Analysis Center
Stored: Farragut Technical Analysis Center
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Farragut Technical Analysis Center (FTAC) is a specialized subcommand of the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), named after Admiral David Farragut, serving as the U.S. Navy’s Center of Excellence for strategic scientific and technical intelligence (S&TI) analysis, located within the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland, Maryland.
Mission
The Farragut Technical Analysis Center’s mission is to deliver high-quality S&TI analysis of foreign naval capabilities, including technologies, sensors, weapons, platforms, combat systems, C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), and cyber capabilities. It aims to support Navy acquisition managers, weapons developers, and operational forces by analyzing foreign materiel, signals, and acoustics, ensuring the Navy understands and counters current and emerging maritime threats.
Parent organization
The FTAC operates under the Office of Naval Intelligence, within the Department of Defense, as one of ONI’s five Centers of Excellence, contributing to broader naval intelligence efforts from its base at the NMIC.
Legislation
The FTAC was not established by specific legislation but was formed as part of ONI’s post-Cold War reorganization in the early 1990s, evolving from earlier technical intelligence units like the Navy Scientific and Technical Intelligence Center (NAVSTIC, 1968) to address growing S&TI demands.
Partners
- National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office (NMIO) for intelligence coordination
- Naval Research Laboratory for technical collaboration
- Intelligence Community (e.g., DIA, NSA) for all-source analysis
Number of employees
The exact number of FTAC employees is not publicly specified; it employs a subset of ONI’s 3,000+ personnel, likely numbering in the hundreds, including intelligence analysts, scientists, engineers, and specialists, with staffing levels varying based on mission requirements.
Organization structure
The FTAC is a distinct unit within ONI’s command structure:
Leader
The Commanding Officer of FTAC is currently Captain Devron Eakins, who assumed command on August 9, 2024, relieving Captain Ruth Lane, reporting to the Commander, ONI.
Divisions
Key functional areas include:
- Technical Analysis Division for platform and weapons assessments.
- Foreign Materiel Exploitation Team for physical analysis.
- Acoustic Intelligence Laboratory for underwater sound studies.
- Modeling and Simulation Group for capability projections.
List of programs
- Strategic S&TI Analysis Program
- Foreign Materiel Exploitation Initiative
- National Maritime Acoustic Intelligence Laboratory Operations
Last total enacted budget
The FTAC’s budget is not separately detailed; it’s funded within ONI’s portion of the Navy’s FY 2024 budget of $202.5 billion, under the broader DoD budget of $842 billion, supporting personnel, labs, and technical operations, with no specific figure isolated.
Staff
The FTAC staff comprises intelligence analysts, scientists, engineers, and technical specialists, likely numbering in the hundreds within ONI’s 3,000-strong workforce, focused on S&TI tasks like materiel exploitation and acoustic analysis, supported by reservists during peak demands.
Funding
Since its inception, the FTAC has been funded through ONI’s appropriations under Title 10 U.S.C., with FY 2024’s $202.5 billion Navy budget covering its operations, equipment, and facilities within the NMIC.
Services provided
The FTAC provides in-depth analysis of foreign naval technologies (e.g., radar, missiles), conducts foreign materiel exploitation, produces acoustic intelligence via its National Maritime Acoustic Intelligence Laboratory, and offers modeling/simulation to predict adversary capabilities, serving Navy and national security stakeholders.
Regulations overseen
The FTAC operates under ONI’s regulatory framework, including SECNAVINST 5530.4E for security, but does not create regulations; it aligns with Intelligence Community standards like ICD 902 for maritime intelligence production.
Headquarters address
4251 Suitland Road, Suitland, MD 20746 (National Maritime Intelligence Center)
History
Named after Civil War Admiral David Farragut, the FTAC evolved from ONI’s technical intelligence efforts, notably NAVSTIC (1968), and was formalized in the 1990s as a Center of Excellence during the NMIC’s establishment (1994). It expanded post-9/11 to include cyber and C4ISR analysis, with its acoustic lab becoming a national asset, and marked a leadership transition in August 2024.
Related
See Also Links to related programs articles or organizations: