[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 142 (Thursday, September 22, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1694-E1695]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO THE DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROSCOE G. BARTLETT

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 22, 2011

  Mr. BARTLETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Defense 
Intelligence Agency on the occasion of its' 50th Anniversary.
  Created in 1961, DIA is our nation's premier provider of intelligence 
on foreign military intentions and capabilities. DIA's workforce of 
over 16,500 military and civilian intelligence professionals conducts 
all-source analysis, human and technical intelligence collection, 
counterintelligence and provides secure information technology support 
worldwide for military commanders, warfighters and policymakers.

[[Page E1695]]

  DIA is responsible for the Defense Attache System, Defense 
Counterintelligence and HUMINT Center, National Defense Intelligence 
College, National Media Exploitation Center, National Center for 
Credibility Assessment and several specialized intelligence centers: 
the Underground Facility Analysis Center, the Missile and Space 
Intelligence Center and the Joint Intelligence Task Force--Combating 
Terrorism.
  In addition to these components, I am especially pleased that DIA's 
National Center for Medical Intelligence, NCMI, is located in my 
Congressional District on Fort Detrick. NCMI's 150 civilian and 
military intelligence analysts and scientists are charged with 
preparing and coordinating intelligence on foreign health threats and 
medical issues to protect U.S. interest worldwide.
  As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a frequent 
visitor to NCMI and Fort Detrick, I have received numerous briefings 
from DIA and NCMI personnel. Each time I have been briefed by DIA 
analysts I have been impressed by the Agency's expertise identifying 
medical threats to U.S. forces and our allies, and the insights these 
intelligence professionals bring on foreign military intentions and 
capabilities.
  During DIA's five decades of existence, the Agency has remained agile 
in the face of evolving national security threats. From the Cold War, 
to the Vietnam War, to the first Gulf War, DIA's early efforts focused 
on understanding and, if necessary, defeating state-sponsored 
militaries and providing strategic warning.
  Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, DIA has responded to the asymmetric 
threat posed by transnational terrorist groups such as al-Qaida by 
pushing more analytic and collection capabilities forward in direct 
support of our military forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. 
Today intelligence professionals from across DIA, including personnel 
from NCMI are forward deployed alongside our troops to provide the best 
and most timely military intelligence possible.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the men and women of DIA on 50 years of 
service. Guided by their Agency motto ``Committed to Excellence in 
Defense of the Nation'', I am confident that DIA will be standing watch 
to defeat the threats we face today and to indentify and meet the 
national security challenges of the next 50 years and beyond.

                          ____________________