Information Security Oversight Office

Information Security Oversight Office
ISOO
Agency overview
Formed	December 1, 1978
Preceding agency	Interagency Classification Review Committee
Jurisdiction	Federal government of the United States
Headquarters	700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
Parent agency	National Archives and Records Administration
Key document	Classified National Security Information [4]
Website
www.archives.gov/isoo

The Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) is responsible to the President for policy and oversight of the government-wide security classification system and the National Industrial Security Program. The ISOO receives authority from:

• Executive Order 13526, "Classified National Security Information"
• Executive Order 12829, as amended "National Industrial Security Program" PDF

The ISOO is a component of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and receives policy and program guidance from the National Security Council (NSC).

History

President Jimmy Carter established the ISOO with the signing of Executive Order 12065, "National Security Information," on December 1, 1978.

The ISOO replaced the Interagency Classification Review Committee (ICRC) which was created by Executive Order 11652, "Classification and Declassification of National Security Information and Material," issued by President Richard Nixon in 1972. The ICRC was composed of representatives from the Departments of Defense, Justice and State, the predecessor to the United States Department of Energy, the Atomic Energy Commission, and the Central Intelligence Agency. John Eisenhower chaired the ICRC, which met monthly at the White House. When Mr. Eisenhower resigned in 1973, the administrative function of the ICRC was moved to the then National Archives and Records Service, a component of the General Services Administration, with the Archivist of the United States, James Rhodes, named as acting chairman. William L. Brown, an attorney with the Atomic Energy Commission, was appointed Executive Director in October 1973 and served until December, 1975. The committee continued to meet monthly in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.

Former Congressman Michael Blouin from Iowa served as the first Director of ISOO. When Mr. Blouin stepped down in 1980, President Carter appointed Steven Garfinkel as ISOO's second Director. Mr. Garfinkel served as Director until his retirement in January 2002. In May 2002, the Archivist of the U.S. appointed J. William Leonard as Director with the approval of President Bush. Mr. Leonard served as Director until his retirement in January 2008. William J. Bosanko was named the acting Director in January 2008 and was formally appointed as Director by the Archivist of the U.S., with the approval of President Bush, on April 16, 2008. Mr. Bosanko served as Director until the Archivist of the U.S. named him as the Executive for Agency Services at the National Archives and Records Administration in March 2011. William A. Cira was named by the Archivist of the U.S. as acting Director on March 2011 and served in this capacity until July 27, 2011. On August 1, 2011, the appointment of John P. Fitzpatrick as ISOO's fifth Director,became effective.

Government openness and public access

The ISOO strives to provide for an informed American public by ensuring that the minimum information necessary to the interest of national security is classified and that information is declassified as soon as it no longer requires protection. This is carefully balanced by the imperative to hold certain information in confidence in order to protect from harm America's citizens, its democratic institutions, and its participation in the community of nations.

ISOO Components

The Classification Management Staff

Develops security classification policies for classifying, declassifying and safeguarding national security information generated in Government and industry.

The Operations Staff

Evaluates the effectiveness of the security classification programs established by Government and industry to protect information vital to our national security interests.

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Office

Develops standardized CUI policies and procedures that appropriately protect sensitive information through effective data access and control measures.

ISOO's Mission, Functions, and Goals

Mission

An open society in which an American public is informed by a free flow of information and holds our government accountable is a defining factor of our democracy. Similarly, our ability to share and leverage information is the source of power and might in the 21st century. This must be balanced by the imperative to hold certain information in confidence in order to protect from harm our citizens, our democratic institutions, and our participation in the community of nations. ISOO ensures the development and application and preserves the integrity of risk-based frameworks in government and industry, which balance the disclosure, sharing and protection of information related to the national security. Under Executive Order 13526, and Executive Order 12829,as amended, ISOO oversees the security classification programs in both Government and industry and reports annually to the President on their status. We monitor approximately 65 executive branch departments, independent agencies and offices, and their major components.

Functions

• Develops implementing directives and instructions.
• Reviews and approves agency implementing regulations.
• Maintains liaison relationships with agency counterparts and conducts on-site and document reviews to monitor agency compliance.
• Develops and disseminates security education materials for Government and industry; monitors security education and training programs. The ISOO's most popular training tools include Marking Classified National Security Information and Standard Form 312 Briefing Booklet PDF.
• Receives and takes action on complaints, appeals, and suggestions.
• Collects and analyzes relevant statistical data and, along with other information, reports them annually to the President. The ISOO analyzes these data and reports them, along with other relevant information, in its Annual Report to the President and its Cost Report. Copies of ISOO Annual Reports are available upon request or for download at the ISOO's section for Reports.
• Serves as spokesperson to Congress, the media, special interest groups, professional organizations, and the public.
• Conducts special studies on identified or potential problem areas and develops remedial approaches for program improvement.
• Recommends policy changes to the President through the National Security Advisor. As appropriate, the ISOO convenes and chairs interagency meetings to discuss matters, including possible policy changes, pertaining to the security classification program.
• Provides program and administrative support for the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP) under E.O. 13526.
• Provides program and administrative support for the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB).
• Reviews requests for original classification authority from agencies.
• Chairs the National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee (NISPPAC) under E.O. 12829, as amended.
• Chairs the State, Local, Tribal, and Private Sector Policy Advisory Committee (SLTPSPAC) under E.O. 13549.

Goals

• Promote and enhance the system that protects the national security information that safeguards the American government and its people.
• Provide for an informed American public by ensuring that the minimum information necessary to the interest of national security is classified and that information is declassified as soon as it no longer requires protection.
• Promote and enhance concepts that facilitate the sharing of information in the fulfillment of mission-critical functions related to national security.
• Provides expert advice and guidance pertinent to the principles of information security.

Annual Reports

									2010
2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
1999	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994	1993	1992	1991	1990
1989	1988	1987	1986	1985	1984	1983	1982	1980 - 1981

Policy Documents

Executive Order 13526, Classified National Security Information

On December 29, 2009, the White House released a new Executive order entitled "Classified National Security Information." It prescribes a uniform system for classifying, safeguarding, and declassifying national security information.

Implementation Memorandum

On December 29, 2009, the White House released a Presidential memorandum entitled "Implementation of the Executive Order 'Classified National Security Information.'" This memorandum imparts specific requirements to the Executive branch concerning implementation of the new order.

Original Classification Authority

On December 29, 2009, the White House released a Presidential order entitled "Original Classification Authority." This order designates those agency heads and officials as having the authority to classify information.

32 CFR Parts 2001

Sets forth guidance to agencies on original and derivative classification, downgrading, declassification, and safeguarding of classified national security information.

ISOO Directive No. 1, Appendix A

Describes the procedures to be followed by individuals or organizations who wish to bring matters before the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP), and the procedures that the ISCAP will follow to resolve these matters.

Executive Order 12829, as amended

Establishes a National Industrial Security Program to safeguard Federal Government classified information that is released to contractors, licensees, and grantees of the United States Government.

National Industrial Security Program (NISP) implementing order

Safeguards Federal Government classified information that is released to contractors, licensees, and grantees of the United States Government.

32 CFR Part 2004

Amendment to the National Industrial Security Program Directive No. 1. This amendment provides guidance to agencies on release of certain classified information (referred to as "proscribed information") to contractors that are owned or under the control of a foreign interest and have had the foreign ownership or control mitigated by an arrangement known as an Special Security Agreement (SSA).

SLTPS

Classified National Security Information Program for State, Local, Tribal, and Private Sector Entities.

Executive Order 13556

"Controlled Unclassified Information", which establishes a program between the Executive Agent (EA), departments or agencies, other stakeholders, and the general public to consolidate and standardize CUI terms.

Notices

Since September 30, 2008, the Information Security Oversight Office has issued ISOO Notices to disseminate and provide consistent guidance to Federal Agencies, in an effort to improve their classified national security information programs. Each ISOO Notice focuses on a single topic related to classification, safeguarding, or declassification.

As of September 30, 2010, due to the issuance of Executive Order 13526 and the revision to 32 C.F.R part 2001, many of the original notices have been revised, canceled, or superseded. The notices listed reflect these changes.

Current

ISOO Notice 2012-02: Classification Marking Instructions on the Use of “50X1-HUM” vs “25X1-human” as a Declassification Instruction

ISOO Notice 2012-01: Requirements for Derivative Classifier Training

ISOO Notice 2011-02: Further Guidance and Clarification on Commingling Atomic Energy Information and Classified National Security Information

ISOO Notice 2011-01: Review and Approval of Exemptions to Automatic Declassification Pursuant to Sections 3.3(b) and 3.3(h) of Executive Order 13526

ISOO Notice 2010-02: Agencies Eligible/Ineligible to Receive Referrals

ISOO Notice 2010-01: Status Update of ISOO Notices

ISOO Notice 2009-16: Prohibited Use of Electronic Signatures on the Standard Form 312, "Classified Information Non-disclosure Agreement"

ISOO Notice 2009-07: ISOO Notice 2009-07: Mandatory Declassification Review – Inappropriate Citation of Section 6.2(c) of E.O. 12958, as amended

ISOO Notice 2009-06: "Handling NATO Information Identified during Automatic Declassification Processing"

ISOO Notice 2009-04: “Best Practices” for Declassification Review Record Keeping

ISOO Notice 2009-03: Notification, Coordination, and Documentation Related to Subsequent Reviews Conducted by Primary Reviewing Agencies[Related to Automatic Declassification] ]

ISOO Notice 2009-02: Initial Instructions on the Use of the SF 715, "Declassification Review Tab"

ISOO Notice 2009-01: Use of the Standard Form 715, "Declassification Review Tab"

ISOO Announcement Memo: September 30,2008

Cancelled ISOO Notice 2009-15: Further Definition of "Comparable Media" as it Relates to Delays in the Onset of Automatic Declassification ISOO Notice 2009-14: Corrections to Citations in 32 C.F.R. Part 2001 Referencing Open Storage Areas ISOO Notice 2009-13: Prohibited Use of X1-X8 Markings ISOO Notice 2009-12: Prohibited Use of the Marking “Originating Agency’s Determination Required” (OADR) ISOO Notice 2009-11: Prohibited Use of Markings "MR" (Manual Review) and "Source Marked MR, date of source[date]"] ISOO Notice 2009-10: Security Violation Reporting to ISOO ISOO Notice 2009-09: Derivative Classification – Identification of Multiple Sources ISOO Notice 2009-08: Utilization of Classified Addenda ISOO Notice 2009-05: Agencies Ineligible to Receive Referrals Identified by Primary Reviewing Agencies Amongst Records Subject to Automatic Declassification on December 31st of 2006, 2007, and 2008 See also National Archives and Records Administration Public Interest Declassification Board The Controlled Unclassified Information Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel Notes and references External links ISOO home page National Declassification Center