Office of Naval Intelligence

• Oldest U.S. Intelligence Organization: The Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) was established in 1882, making it the oldest member of the United States Intelligence Community. • Founded to Counter Naval Threats: ONI was created partly in response to the growing naval power of European nations and concerns that the U.S. Navy was falling behind technologically. • First Chief was a Civil War Veteran: The first head of ONI was Lieutenant Theodorus Bailey Myers Mason, a Civil War veteran tasked with gathering foreign naval intelligence. • Early Espionage Missions: In its formative years, ONI sent officers abroad undercover to gather blueprints, ship specifications, and even spy on shipyards in Europe and Asia. • Role in World War I: During WWI, ONI was key in counter-espionage against German spies and saboteurs, and in monitoring shipping to prevent enemy submarines from attacking U.S. and Allied vessels. • Women in ONI: During World War II, ONI recruited a significant number of women, known as "Code Girls," to assist in cryptanalysis and intelligence processing. • Contributions to Cryptography: ONI played a leading role in the development of early U.S. codebreaking efforts, including cooperation with other services in breaking Japanese naval codes before and during WWII. • Hollywood Connections: The founder of the Motion Picture Association of America, Will H. Hays, was a wartime consultant to ONI, helping produce naval training and propaganda films. • The "Black Chamber": In the interwar period, ONI worked closely with the Army's "Black Chamber" (MI-8), the first U.S. peacetime cryptanalytic organization. • Modern Missions: Today, ONI provides intelligence on foreign naval capabilities, technological developments, and maritime security threats, supporting both strategic and tactical operations worldwide.