About this Unit
The Naval Intelligence Command (NIC) was established in 1967 as a central organization to coordinate and manage United States Navy intelligence operations. Headquartered at the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland, Maryland, the NIC was responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating maritime intelligence to support naval operations worldwide. Throughout the Cold War, the NIC played a crucial role in tracking Soviet naval movements and providing strategic assessments to fleet commanders and national leaders. In 1993, the NIC was restructured and its functions were absorbed by the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), continuing its legacy of maritime intelligence support for the U.S. Navy.
Historical Facts
•
Origins in World War I: The roots of the Naval Intelligence Command (NIC) can be traced back to 1882 with the establishment of the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), making it the oldest member of the U.S. Intelligence Community.
•
Cold War Evolution: During the Cold War, ONI expanded significantly, and the Naval Intelligence Command was formally established in 1966 to manage ONI's operational and analytic efforts more efficiently.
•
Submarine Tracking: NIC played a key role in tracking Soviet submarines during the Cold War, contributing critical intelligence that shaped U.S. anti-submarine warfare tactics.
•
Support to Space Missions: In the 1960s and 1970s, Naval Intelligence provided support to NASA by tracking foreign vessels that could be monitoring U.S. space activities.
•
First Female Director: In 2020, Rear Adm. Kelly Aeschbach became the first woman to lead Naval Intelligence, reflecting the growing diversity within the intelligence community.
•
Decryption Efforts: During World War II, Naval Intelligence, through OP-20-G, was instrumental in breaking Japanese naval codes, leading to victories like the Battle of Midway.
•
Counterintelligence Success: NIC was involved in uncovering the "Walker spy ring," a notorious case in which U.S. Navy personnel sold secrets to the Soviet Union from the 1960s to the 1980s.
•
Technological Advances: NIC has been at the forefront of adopting advanced technologies, such as satellite reconnaissance, signals intelligence, and cyber operations, to support naval operations.
•
Global Reach: Naval Intelligence Command maintains a network of attachés and analysts worldwide, providing critical intelligence to U.S. forces in every major military operation since its founding.
•
Merger and Modernization: In 1993, the Naval Intelligence Command was restructured and its functions were absorbed into the Naval Information Warfare Command and the National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office, reflecting the changing landscape of military intelligence.
