Welcome to Safeguards and Counterintelligence

The Ames Research Center's Safeguards and Counterintelligence Office (SCIO) establishes and maintains a proactive Counterintelligence (CI) program to detect, deter and neutralize incidents of actual, attempted or probable acts of subversion, sabotage, terrorism, or espionage directed at Ames Research Center employees, technologies and resources, or the actual, attempted or probable compromise of national security information. Moreover, the SCIO will implement a comprehensive foreign travel briefing/debriefing program and a Sponsor and Escort Briefings and Audit Program.

What is Counterintelligence?

Counterintelligence is the process of detecting, deterring and neutralizing individuals who would engage in espionage, sabotage, subversion, terrorist activities or the intentional compromise of national security information on behalf of a foreign power or for personal gratification. Counterintelligence activities consist of, but are not limited to the following:

Counterintelligence Liaison

Counterintelligence Investigation

Counterintelligence Education and Awareness Training

Counterintelligence Analysis and Counter-terrorism.

What exactly is Espionage?

Espionage is the illegal act of obtaining, delivering, transmitting, communicating, or receiving information in respect to national defense with an intent or reason to believe that the information will be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of a foreign power.

What is Terrorism?

Terrorism is the unlawful use of force against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.

The Office of Security Management and the Safeguards and Counterintelligence Program Manager, at NASA Headquarters, directs all Counterintelligence operations, investigations, and coordinates CI training for all NASA Centers.

Counterintelligence activities are conducted in accordance with applicable statutes:

Executive Order 12333
The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958
NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 1660.1
NASA Procedures and Guidelines (NPG) 9900.1
Ames Security Procedures and Guidelines (APG) 1620.1, NASA Ames Research Center Security Handbook

If you would like more information on counterintelligence, or you wish to report a counterintelligence incident affecting NASA Ames Research Center, please call the Center Counterintelligence Office at (650) 604-1362.