Joint NGA/NRO activity to integrate new commercial geospatial intelligence capabilities for the Intelligence Community

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office today announced a joint activity to better leverage emerging commercial geospatial intelligence (GEOINT).

The Commercial GEOINT Activity (CGA) allows both agencies to assess current capabilities and develop strategies to ensure the timely and successful integration of commercial innovations that will benefit NGA and NRO.

“The CGA will shape how we interact with the commercial GEOINT industry and enable us to more efficiently and effectively explore alternatives to traditional collection and analysis,” said NGA Director Robert Cardillo. “Most importantly, as the GEOINT Functional Manager, I will look to the CGA to improve my ability to satisfy GEOINT needs using all available solutions.”

This activity will serve as a voice for NGA and NRO to the commercial GEOINT enterprise. The CGA will conduct joint assessments, recommend investment decisions, and engage user communities. It will advise NGA and NRO on synchronizing joint acquisition activities for vendors who can provide both collection and analytic capabilities to benefit the agencies.  The CGA will also develop strategies to access, acquire and integrate commercial GEOINT capabilities.

“We believe there is a very exciting future for these commercial GEOINT providers, and the NRO and NGA want to work with industry and make the smart decisions over the coming months and years,” said NRO Director Betty Sapp. “The new CGA partnership presents a great opportunity for us to provide a coordinated voice and integrated approach to our industry partners.”

The CGA will begin operations no later than September 30, 2016.

Source: NGA