the Founder of CIA's Directorate of Science and Technology
J. Kohhr, fl. James Woolsey, and
ATMS* ceremony at CIA Hetdqutrten enirector ef Central Intelligence R.
Woolsey presented the R. V, fonet Intelligence Award ta Dr. Albert D. "Bud" Wheelon. The Da eUab-luhedthis award3 ta honor imlividutJs where career aectmplish-mritt are in the ben-f the renowned British physicist. Reginald Viae*acumen, applied with art, in the cmuie efThe first award wai presented to Prafessorfona in
Ai one of theiiiilt and ipaee pioneers. Dr. Wbeeltn'i contributions It science and technology and their applications to national security ore from the creation af 'the Directorate of Science and Technology tt CIA to the recognition tf the appti-etsian of space systems as the logical next step to collect inielUgrnct from denied areas. He mitt served on mmhigh-level boards, including theoreign IntelligenceBoard.esult tfhis work at the Agency and throughout hit career. Dr Wheelon hat reshaped the wtrtd af modem intelligence.
Robert J. Kohler is Executive Vice Presided! and General Mai sgci TRW Avionics and Surveillance Group. R. James Woolsey served as Director of Central Intelligence.
enior scientist in the Directorate of Science and Technology.
Folltwing er, emony by Robert f. Kthier, R. fames Woolsey, and- '
Robert J. Kohler
DO Woolsey. Dr. Jones. Dr. Wheelon:
I am very pleased to have theto offer nine comment! in honor of Dr. Albert D. "Bod" Whceloo ai he reorives the R. V. Jones Intelligenceave known Bud Wheclon for many yearsrofessional colleague,age adviser and confidant, andrusted friend. Thai long relationship has given me some unique and insightful perspectives into theand accomplishments of this man to whom the Director Central Intelligence so fittingly pays tribute today.
When wc hear the word "legend" used toerson, or in accomplishment described asit is oftenports context, usually indicating feats and accomplishments that arc so out-sited, so remarkable, and so unusual thai they defy casual description. Lou Gehrig's record of consecutive baseball games played, Hank Aaron's home run tally, Jim Brown's rushing records, and to on. Thosewere so noteworthy because they took place underand challenging circumstances and were very much in the public eye. But there are other legends, whose skills and achievements are
unparalleled, where the stakes are of the most vital significance, but who have played in arenas that are outside the public's view. Bud Wheclon. whose career has taken him within the most sectet recesses of USis one such legend, and bestowing the R. V. JonesAward is an affirmation of the importance and significance of his life's work, oof only to advance and improve our national intelligence endeavor ihrough science but also through technology.
A review of Dr. Wheelon sbefore he entered government service gives, as we used to say in the imageryood "indication and warning* of the extraordinary career thai was to follow. Heachelor's degree from Stanford University9h.D. from theInstitute of Technologye taughtew years at MIT and3osition with the Ramo-WooldridgeFor the next nine years, hene of the nation's space and missile pioneers, helping to develop guidance systems for long-range ballistic missiles and perform -ing otiginal research on radio-wave propagation and fluid flow. Thanks in large measure to his insights, the United States finally cracked some very tough problems of interpreting data from foreign missile systems.
His efforts in the private sector brought him to che government's attention, and.ud Wheelon
FOBMluUI BATE: MM III?
Soanc* and ft cJnofeojr
wu recruited by DC) John McConc io come to work foe CIA. He arrived in time toignificant role in the Cuban missile crisis, serving as the Ouirman of the Guided Missile and Astronautics Intelligence Committee during due perilous period of Cold Wit history. The importance of his committee's work .during the crisised illustrated in the recently'OAm the Cuban
n the aftermath of missile .mil. Director McConc decided to reorganize the CIA's separate and uncoordinated science andefforts. He decided to form thoseingle unit called the Directorate of Science andand. to serve as the director of that organization, he those Bud Whcclon. Ai the time. Dr. Wheelonis youth made him an enigma to many in the Agency,the Deputy Director fen lans (what is now the Deputyfornvited to speak to the leadership of the DDP. the new Deputy Director of Sooner and Technology slipped into the crowded conference room unrecog-nited and went to the head of the table. The DDP. noticing the young "whipper-snapper* in (he place of prominence, started to tctl him to move off. only to realize ar the last moment chat this might be the new DDSflcT
[ think it is worth taking note of the circumstances, both geopolitical and technological, under which Dr. Wheelon took command of the new directorate. The Cold War had just passed through one of its mostconfrontations in the Cuban miuik crisis, and the "long, twilight
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He brought to the job ofhe intelligence, energy, and drive needed to
propel that directorate to the forefront of US Intel ligence, establishing scientific dau collection and analysis systems that were employed successfully throughout the Cold War era.
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struggle" never seemed so gloomy or interminable. The Soviet landman, even with several years ofoverflightsircraft, wu stillark cipher, unknown and forbidding.
At the same time, years of research and development by the government and aerospace and other companies in the private sector into the new technologies of rocketry, satellites,ost of retired fields were beginning to bear tangible fruit-That extraordinary scientificexecuted mostly under the most secretive conditions, had produced the technology to allow for thecollection of unique and vital satellite intelligence from theof outer space. But the understanding and apprcctaboe of lhat progress within the bureaucracy had not kept pace with the advance of science, and the foil capabilities of the new technologies were not being exploited.
1 can only imagine what was in the mind of the young Bud Wheelon, faced with the daunting task ofystem to exploit those
new and growing capabilities to address the challenges posed by the ominous Soviet threat. Perhaps his thoughts were akin to those expressed by the protagonist in Edgar Allen Poe't poem. The Awe
Deep inn lhat darkneti peering,ad there, wandering, fearing,
Doubting, detaining dreamt na mortalream before.
Whether or not Bud Wheelonreamer only he can say, but. at the very least, it is clear heision of how the scientific and technical skills of the OA should be organised and managed. Moreover, hean of action, and. at that moment in history, decisive action wu required. He brought to the job of DDS&cT the intelligence, energy, and drive needed to propel thatto the forefront of US Intelligence, estiblishing scientific data collection and analysis systems that were employed successfully throughout the Cold War era. This wuemarkable achievement. Thereremendous bread ih of technical disciplines involved inthe new directorate: the Office of Scientificnit that had been part of theof Intelligence concerned with basic scientific research conducted by foreign countries; theomputer services group; the Office of ELI NT. an electronic intelligence unit that had been part of the Clandestine Service; theProjects Division, the Clandestine Service unit that had been responsible for developing.nd othet overhead reconnaissance systems; the Office of Research andnit
Scxrce ind Technology
charged with employing newin the intelligence cycle; and the Foreign Miuile and Space Analy-vitoup established to monitor foreign mimic and ipace programi.
From that cacophony of separateand Muvibes, Dr. Wheelon brought coherence and management discipline. Most important were the guiding principles he established tor the organization. Those principles, to push the state of the art in technology and to instill institutionalizedmanagement, arc still the cornerstones of the DS&T. Some of his additional legacies indudedtechnical qualifications tor personnel, high standards of quality for technical programs and analysis and reporting, and rigorous scientific and technical integrity throughout the directorate. And hehands-on' manacer. Once,isit to where theaircralt toas being developed (now known as theeide in the back seatrainerDO McConc. who was not keen on having top managers risk their lives, on hearing about the ride nearly fired himi
Dr. Wheelon did not merely shuffle the organisation charts, however. The usefulness ofirborne reconnaissance program was reaching an end. and new solutions to the dilemma of intelligence gathering over denied areas were needed. He could sec that there was aof new and developing intelligence technologies and an urgent requirement for reliable and comprehensive intelligence collection. Thus. Dr. Wheelon
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Dr. Wheelon became one of the earliest proponents of using outer space as the
venue of the future for intelligence collection. He also strongly believed in and worked tirelessly to include CIA participation in space-based collectioniew that was not always universally shared.
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became one of the earliestof using outer space as the venue of the future for intelligence collection. He also strongly believed in and worked tirelessly to include CIA participation iniew that was not always universally shared- It was his persistence and vision that led to the creationoint Air Force, Navy, and CIA organisation tothe new collection programs, what wc now call the National Reconnaissance Office.
We often take for granted the things to which wc are accustomed, like being able to walk in almost any room,witch, and eapect instanti nation. We typically forget the vast infrastructure and technology which makes thosepossible, and wc also sometimes forget that thosewere not predestined. Such is very much the case with the Nthe incredibly responsive andcollection systems of the past, present, and future are based on the structure that Budears ago, and, without his
leadership and tenacity, it would not have happened Looking back, many in the Community now believe that it was this "odd" mature ofwith no track record of cooperation or coordination, that was the vital ingredient in theof die NRO.
Bud Wheelon's tenure at OA wasrologueubsequent superlative record of scientific aad technical leadership6 heareer with the Hughes Aircraftrising from Vice President of Engineering to become theof the Board and Chief Executive Officert is surely no coincidence that during his tenure Hughes became thesupplier of communications satcllirei in the world. He alsoto give generously of his time and aaention to the government arena, servingember of the Defense Science Board8ember of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board3ndem-bet of the special Presidential Commission to investigate the space shuttle Challenger accident. He has continued to the present to give ielf-icssly of his rime and wisdom to NASA and elements of the national security community.
For all of these accomplishments, we honor Dr. Wheelon here today. But in doinghink we also honor something else: Bud Wheelon is one of rhose rare individuals (hat cornea to serve as an archetype for theand organizations of his generation. In honoring Dr. Wheelon for his achievements, we also pay tribute to the entire
nd technical intelligence community for whichodel. Thai community hai been the single-mow vital, productive, and reliable componeni of US intelligence from the earliest stages of the Cold War, across the decades of global threat and challenge to our nationalto the present day and beyond;
Human intelligence (HUMINT) and covert action have received more attention, both good and ill, over the yean in the media, theindustry, and in the popular imagination than has technicalcollection. Can you seepy movie about signalradio-wave propagation, ot photo interpretation? Yet. those were some of the vital technical skills and capabilities which constituted the nervous system of the United States and the American military as we needed to flea our muscles around the world.
I think we should also remindthat it was the United States, with preeminent technicalcapabilities, that won the Cold War. and not the Soviet Union, which many will argue wasin the field of HUMINT. The Soviets thoroughly penetrated the governments, militaties, businesses, and intelligence services in almost every Western nation they faced, including the United Sates. Yet even with all those HUMINT resources and successful penetrations, they lost the struggle. Certainly, we had our share of successful HUMINT opera-rions during the Cold War, but our clear competitive advantage as an intelligence service was in the area of technical intelligence systems.
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Certainly, wc had our share
of successful HUMINT operations during the Cold War, bat our clearadvantage as anservice was in the area of technical intelligence systems.
And what was that advantage?of satellites and other intelligence collection systems with truly astonishing technicalJar surpassing the best efforts of out Cold War opponents, and far beyond the technical grasp of any other nation. We used thatand the prodigious amounts of information it provided, to leverage our political, economic, and mPitary strategies and tactics to achieve aoutcome to the greatest moral struggle of our age.
Bud Wheelon was an exemplar of ihe system that produced those extraordinary technicalystem composed of tens ofof dedicated and vigilant men and women, both inside and outside of government, who have served their country from the shadows of anonymity. As we pay tribute to Dr. Wheelon, we also acknowledge the debt we owe to the others who ate part of that special endeavor. And as wc look to the future and makeabout bow to apportion our intelligence resources and efforts, we must remember this recent history. There is and will continue toritical need for scientific andintelligence collection. If we ignore ot neglect those historically vital intelligence capabilities, then we
invite the national security reverses and disasters that the Intelligence Community was formed to avoid.
Walter Lippmann once said that "the final testeader is that he leaves behind him in other men theand the will to carryhe geniusood leader is to leave behindituation which common sense, without the grace of genius, can deal withr. Wheelon, you certainly left aat CIA of "conviction and the will to carrys the subsequent years of successful technology and programs will attest. As foe the genius part, let us say that your departure left an intellectual vacuum that was never adequately filled, and those of us who followed you have striven to find the "common sense" to deal with the challenges we faced.
This recognition of your outstanding contributions to our nation'sthe R. V. Jones Intelligence Award, could not be more deserved or appropriate. Your rock-solidigorous intellectual discipline, and passion for excellence established the standards of performance by which subsequent generations of intelligence officers have beenThe most eloquent testimony to your career achievements is in thecitation: "Scientific acumen, applied with art, in the cause of freedom."
In closing, the most finingan think to offer is to echo the words of former DCI Judge William Webster used in speaking at another awards ceremony honoring Bud: "If there had been no Bud Wheelon ready and willing to serve, surety we would have had to invent one."
Rod, on behalf of all of us, parrieu-lariy those who served in thehich you created, thank you fot all you have done, and congratulations.
R. James Woolsey
Dr. Wheelon; Cicely (wife);Ericar-
ticularly thank lor herwork putting all of this together;guests; friends.
A yearnaugurated the R. V. Jones Intelligence Award to honor individuals whose careerare in the best tradition of Reginald Jones. The R. V. Jones Award carries the inscription:acumen, applied with art, io the cause offormulation onollaborated withJones. It is essentially shorthand for honoring thosetheirand technical ingenuity and ability and leadership, and where called fot frankly by theirand by theirserved greatly the cause of human freedom through intelligence.
I am delighted that Professor Jones can be here this year to participate in this award ceremony as well. The British Government recently awarded him the "Order of theof Honour" for "Service* tone of the most prestigious awards in the United Kingdom, and further recognition of hiscontributions.
Three great, global wars dominated this century. Two dominated the lives of many of us assembled in this
roomWargainst Fascism, and the Cold War against Communism. Today, both have been relegated to the attention of historians.
Although our enemies in these last two wars came under different names, they shared one thing in .appetite for tyranny, and with it the conviction that man could be broken down andremadeew image. Millions suffeted and died because of Fascism and Communism. But these enemies of liberty eventually failed. They failed, not in the first instance because we had superior technology or military might. Theechnical and military prowess was initially substantial. They ultimately failed because they did not count on the resiliency of the human spirit, especially the cre-atrviry of free men and women defending free societies. They failed because they did not count on the ingenuity, persistence, andof. for example, Reginald Jones, and of the man we are honoring
here today. Bud Wheelon- The total-itiruns failed in using science to remake mankind; instead, freeformed by the efforts of these two men and others who havethem used science, applied with an. to defend freedom successfully.
Today, weanould call the Reginald Jones of his generation. Both Professor Jones and Dr. Wheelon were called onoung age to develop and deepen the links between science andat critical periods in their nations' histories. Both struggled agairut entrenched and oftenbureaucracies, both built effective team* that brought about staggering innovHiions, and bothajor hand inorldhot, one cole.
You have already beard Bob Kohlcr pay tribute to Dr. Wheelon and hit work, so let meew of hit accomplishments on behalf of anation.
When the Soviet Union launched Sputnikhe world of intelligence wai introduced to Bud wheelon. Presidentwanted an impartial look at information gleanedho-rography to determine the nature and extent of the threat poted by the Soviet bunch. He asked Dr. George Kuiiakowiky, his science adviser, toanel of experts. Dr. Wheeloney role in this 'comparative evaluation* which showed the United States far ahead in weapons research and ioof strategic weapons. The "bomberhe 'missilehe "sciencend other public fears and anxieties raised by Sputnik, ac least at that time, were myths- IGsna-kowsky summed up tbe work of the panel bear when he said: "We were lookingody and onlykeleton."
Yet Bud Wheelon and his colleagues knew that intelligence information oftennapshot in time, and the pictures that emerged in the decades to come were to tell the unfolding story of the buildup of Soviet miliury and strategicThe panel, which bad been convened after Sputnik, had ended its wotk. The need to monitor the pace, the direction, and theof Soviet capabilities continued, as did the need fot Dr. wheelon and his wotk.
Frve yean after Sputnik alarmed the nation, the American people sat before their television sets aridto Presidenr Kennedy announce the American quarantine of Cuba. Soviet miniia were en route. Dr. Wheelon, who joined thehrew himself into the
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The nationalsystems which the Untied States now has, which are truly jewels in our crown, all stem, in my judgment, from the creative work that Bud Wheelon did in the sixties.
ft
work of intelligence collection and evaluation as Director of the Office of Scientific Intelligence. He chaired the Guided Missiles andIntelligence Committee, which provided CIA Director MeCone with critical intelligence on the Cuban missile sites- He played arole in the anilytu for President Kennedy and his advisers during those crucial 'thirteen days."
A year after the Cuban missile crisis. Director John McCone asked Dr. Wheelon. thenoew directorate at the CIA dedicated to science and technology. He took that office, but only on the condition that all scientific endeavors at CIA had to be consolidated under his new dtrcctoraic- Having secured thatfrom Director McConc, he then set out to do what all who know him expected ofinfused the directorate with vision, scientific expertise, and leadership. And be propelled it into theof collection and analysis against the Soviet Union.
Let no one underestimate theof the challenge that Bud Wheelon faced in those years-andirectorate dedicated to the fusion of science
and technology with intelligenceeep understanding ofenormous breadth of technicaland the ability to channel thatreaearch and development to operations, and dau collection to intelligence assessments. He established the principles for the new Directorate of Science andthat have guided our work to thispush state-of-the-art technology, to emphasize strongskills: and to maintain rigorous standards for scientific programs, for analysis, and for reporting.
The men and women whom Dr. Wheelon assembled had to know what technology was available, and bow it could be harnessed- They had to know how, when, and where to up into the nation's bear scientific minds and resources. When called on to help penetrate the intentions or assess the capabilities of America's adversaries, these individuals accepted their tasks not only asto overcome, but also as opportunities to explore.
Dr. Wheeloney role inthis country's national reconnaissance programs. Into his early workhotography, he facilitated the development of theircraft that led to the deployment of thehen the usefulness of the early airborne reconnaissance systems began to wane. Bud Wheelon was one of the first proponents of space as the venue for intelligenceHeumber of satellite systems to provide critical intelligence, from early warning to monitoring arms control agreements and many other purposes- His vision, scientific expertise, and
Scknc* *nd Ttxhnotogy
creativity enabled him to by the groundwork for the innovativethat continue to allow the United States to retain the globalintelligence advantage that it haa today. Ai Secretary of Defense Perry put it: The national reconnais-Mnce systems which the Untied States now his, which are trulyin out crown, all stem, in my judgment, from the creative work that Bud Wheelon did in the sixties."
Dt. Wheelon left CIA6 to join Hughes Aircraft as Viceof Engineering, and,e was CEO and Chairman of the Board. But he continued providing us with his counsel and wisdom, including serving for five yean on the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.etter to Dr. Wheelon last yeat. the Presidentout his "visionary" work ase benefits that can be reapedrue partnership berween government and industry."
And what of the directorate that he left behind? Dr. Wheelon fashioned the nation's most successfulengineering, and scienrific organisation. Before the end of the sixties, the Agency's youngestdreamed up. engineered, built, and deployed collection systems that are the envy of all other nations of the world. The value of ho work, which began during the Cold War, has outlived that conflict. Long after the final pieces of the Berlin Wall are consigned to museum displays around the globe, the systems and programs that Bud Wheelon helped to establish will continue to do what they have been designed toprovide continuing vigilance, early warning, and support to the
Dr. Wheelon respected the timeless principles ofand respect your enemy's abilities, be bothaudaciouseam player, and never forget that espionage and science are partners, not rivals.
??
President, to the militaryand to the diplomats, and they will continue to provide security for America and its friends.
Whenever our arms controlsat down at the negotiating table, whenever our miliury forces were deployed to deter war or to fight, the systems chat Bud Wheelon, his colleagues, and his successots developed have been there as silent and indispensable allies. Three yean ago these systems combined to give our commanders in the Saudi desert the location of Iraqi forces with unprecedented accuracy. They all worked together with such systems astars, airborne radars, global positioning satellites, and with our well-trained miliary forces to ensute victory. Just two months ago. some of these systems werein helping us identify the latest Iraqi provocation. Saddam* deployment of two elite Republican Guard Divisions along with their logistics and ammunition racing to the Kuwaiti border.
Dr. Wheelon has never forgotten that science is the tool, security is thefor the nation and for our ideals. As Professor Jones did before him, Dc. Wheelon respected
the timeless principles of scientificand respect yourbilities, be bothaudaciouseam player, and never forget that espionage andare partners, not rivals.
First, know and respect your enemy's abilities, and the importance of avoiding both the pitfall of habitual anxiety and that of overconfidencc Bud Wheelon appreciated and respected the capabilities of Soviet technology, from Sputnik to theissile. He understood both Soviet strengths and weaknesses. And he never failed to put himself in his adversaries'understand better how they would handlechallenges, whether it entailed missile guidance or space systems.
Second, be both audaciouseam player. Bud Wheelon lived by never fearing to stakeosition which may be unpopular or generate heated opposition. But, in so doing, he never gave up trying to bringalong so that the appropriate action could be taken. As Reginald Jones once put it: The test of good intelligence service in war is not merely that you were right; it is that you penuaded an operational or research staff to cake the correct cciuntetrneasures "
Third, the partnership of espionage and science. The most sophisticated technological breakthroughs will not obviate the need for classicSatellites can pinpoint hostile miliary moves, but spies can uncover hostile miliury intentions. Technology can uncover strategic capabilities, but human sources can uncover political machinations. Like
Reginald Jones, Bud Wheelon knew ihn intelligence officers we likethuds ot fragments of information from many different sources, including satellite photographs, signals intercepts, and spies, and drawing the appropriate conclusions. Unlike archeologisis. however, time is often the enemy of analysisorld where it is no longer enough to anticipate what your adversary will do, but who your neat adversary will be, the right call ii cold comfort if it is made too late.
And.ew words about Bud Wheelon, the man. His colleagues have viewed himeader ofandaster of systems- As one colleague put ic "No one before ot after Bud paralleled his work."
ust tell you that these kinds of accolades come with otherdetermined, candid, not afraid to break crockery. Winston Churchill once toldJones that: "You don't have to be polite, you just have to beud Wheelon worked hard to be both, but heremium on getting itinsisted that others do the same. It is only when people are willing to challengewisdom and get it right that the great strengths from ourinquisitiveness, our creativity, ourbear fruit. There was nothingor automatic about the outcome of the Cold War. It took people who were not afraid to raise awkward questions and not afraid to take risks.
Dr. Wheelon exemplified these strengths in his life's work. Just ice Louis Brandcis once said: "If wc
Bud Wheelon, like Reginald Jones, has proven that intelligence can be conducted successfully while hewing to democratic principles and practices, to our commitment to freedom, and to our sense of fair play and trust.
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would guide by the light of reason, we must let our minds beud Wheelon's mind was bold, his vision clear, and his courage resolute.
The second point about Bud Wheelon theelated to the willingness to question, explore, and take risks. When we serve in these jobs, we all have to keep in mind not only what is expected of us asofficers, but also as Americans. As Americans, we areation of informants, nor are we accustomed to beingbureaucratically or programmede cherish ourindeed, if we did not, wc could not possiblyin defending and advancing these ideals. In his landmark book. DemacracjAmenes, de Toe-qucville expressed skepticism that democracy would permit theskills to conduct foreign policy. In spire of his overall superb batting average, on this point de Toequeville was too pessimistic. Bud Wheelon, like Reginald Jones, has proven that inteUigence can be conductedwhile hewing to democratic principles and practices, to ourto freedom, and to our sense of fair play and trust. Men like Reginald Jones and Bud Wheelon
have shown that being dever in the use of technology and intelligence does not mean that wc should elevate technology to the position of being our boss. Technology must remain the servant of man's free spirit, not his master.
Over the past six months, members of the OA family have heard me lay out inn ia lives to st lengthenaccountability, personnd security, andave done so because these steps were obviously needed.m equally determined to preserve an environment which fosters the free interplay of ideas. If we harbor suspi-dons everyolleague shows an inquisitive mind, we will not be able to infuse our work with creativity and vision. We must not violate the rules of security, ot fail in upholding the standards of accountability. But wc must operate in and foster an environment of free, intdlectualReginald Jones did and Bud Wheelon did.
And. finally, intelligence now more than everrucial role to play for the United Stares in this post-Cold War world. Indeed, the role of intdligence has never been more important in helping the President avoid and manage crises and intoday's smaller military forces. Last fall we worked around the clock to support the President and hb advisers to help resolve three critical foreign policy issues that cameead incritical intelligence to military cc-mrnanders at the Pentagon, at sea. and on the ground in Haiti;our negotiators grappling with North Korea's nudeat program:strategic and tactical warning
SckfKe and Technology
of Saddam's ambitions in hudeploymeno to the Kuwaiti border. The planning andof our intelligence capability to collect and analyse imagery,signals, and humanaying off. Thethat we are buying and the people we arc training are adapting quickly and flexibly to this potpourri of new and demanding post-Cold War challenges. And our response to the three crises in October is the model for how intelligee.ee itto the national security of the Unitedould add that the ideas, the principles, the approach to problems, and, in some cases, thethemselves created by both Reginald Jones and Bud Wheelon were very much with us in October.
As wc pay tribute to Bud Wheelonm reminded of Edwin land, eminent photo scientist and inventor of the Polaroid camera, whose personal credo was: "to select things that are manifestly important and nearlyo Land,were often made by some individual 'who has freed himselfay of thinking that is held by friends and associates who may be more intelligent, better educated-disciplined, but who may not have mastered (he artresh, clean look at the old, oldThis credo exemplifies Bud Wheelon't career, hisand his legacy to us. On behalf of the Inrelligenceand the mem ben of the CIAould urge all of us to help ensure that Dr. Wheelon's career will inipire us to keep several things always in mind. We must maintain the right kind of intellectualand the adequate resources to
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he organization created, motivated, and shaped by Bud Wheelon developed many other technologies!
nor used toar, but to help mankind in many
civilian applications, often in medical science.
support it. The environment and the resource) must allow the ideas to flourish to enable our officers and analysts tofresh, clean look" at the world and at ourselves and at our work, and to continue toto the world the best of what it means to be an intelligence officer working to (he cause of liberty and freedom.
How appropriate that Bud Wheelon be the first recipient of. Jones Award following Jones himself. The world today minonense what the world was like when Dr. Wheelon came to the Agency. Thenderetimes in the world with the launch of Sputnik, the Bay of Pigs, and our questions about the Soviet strategic threat and even our own abilities to respond. It was an epoch of change, just as wc are experiencing today, and it required unprecedented leadership in areas new and untested in intelligence: the application ofand technology and Bud Wheelon was the man with the clear vision and stubborn insistence to pull together anrounded onstrengthen the Agency's capabilities by creating.
organizing, and exploiting new resources of science and technology. He joined institutional, academic, and industrial reaearch to our owned research.
Naturally, the Agency was very focused on the Cold War and Soviet strategic threat. Our leaden,Dr. Wheelon, likely did not imagine the incredible legacy that they would leave behind as they pushed to develop breakthrough technologies to apply to intelligence efforts in fighting the Cold War.
Many of those accomplishments were successful in fighting the Cold War. but the untold story is that the organixiboo created, motivated, and shaped by Bud Wheelon developed many other technologies, net usedar, but to help mankind in many civilian applications, often in medicalew examples should illustrate how technology developed for national securityalso can be applied to civilian problems. As taxpayen, it isro learn of cases where we get "two for the price of one."
We often become inured roin science and technology and yawn as another comes across the screen of the evening news. But, what if that headline on. news read "Improved capabilities to diagnose breast cancel developed at OA. detailsr. "Newchip burning up information superhighway pioneered atertainly, we would all Stay tuned untilould like to give you the "storyn the next few minutes.
At this line, lot of attention ii being paid to the Intelligence Community-sponsored reaeatch originally applied to image and signal processing tor satellite imagery analysis beingto the medical community and applied to assist radiologists in detecting breast cancer. Thealign digitalimagery and then process results to detectchange in images taken over time. These results are particularly significant fot diagnosis of cancer in womenhere diagnosis is much more difficult- One radiologist estimates that applying thesecould reduce the number of deaths occurring from breast cancer byercent.
Another "small highlight" transferred to the medical community wasork inhich led to the patent on the lithium-iodide battery, the dominant chemistry used for heart pacemaker batteries in.
Results ofeaearch also include efforts ro predictproblems, in addition to solving them. Under the auspices of the State Department we managed the developmentodel forthe spread and demographic impact of the AIDS epidemic This model'* original algorithmsore breakthrough which led to the developmenttand-alonemodel. The same techniques can be applied to model any other disease. The AIDS model also ha* been used by the World Health Organisation and the UN.
Leaving the medical domain, we find examplesesearchto the processing and analysts of
Research in improved data extraction, automaticgeneration, machine translation andmultiplebeenefforts supported by interagency groups, often ledfficers, and, in several cases, have led to commercial products.
vast amount* of information which the Agency collects daily. Research in improved data extraction, automatic database generation, machineand inforrrutionmultiplebeen major efforts supportedften led by SfltT officers, and, in several eases, have led to commercial producu. How else will the analyst or policymaker get the right amount of information in the form he wants on his desk when he needs it?
The forerunner of the Pentium chip came into being because of some visionary officer* in the SficT who believedadicalRISCworked with industry in theo see that itairnow look where we are.
There arc may other examples of ScVT accomplishments currentlythe civilian population. Some of them include tools used by urban planners and law enforcement agencies to visualize scenes on the ground innd then insertor plan routes for hostage
rescues. Another tool concerned with racial recognition recently led the Immigration and Naturaliaationto identify andonvicted rapist- Other law enforcementalso are eager to use this technology.
No discussion of SfltT achievements would be complete without mention of how our world will benefit from overhead reconnaissance systems. They have helped us map many regwris of the world and canbe envisioned asole in relief support to natural and man-made disasters. They also will be important in helping us monitor and preserve our environment. All this is possible because of technologyto fight the Cold War.
In founding the DSfltT, Bud Wheelon did more titan create an organization to build wizardry. He gave an ethos, principles, and methodology to guide the SfltT in managing the technology being developed for intelligence re-quircments. He taught his officers and managers, and he demandedHe introduced and insisted on sound programwhich are the cornerstone ofoday. The respcmsibUities given an officer, the accountability which he accepted, and the program-manage moot principles he applied gave and still give any SfltT officer theto step up to almost anyof developing and managing technology thatifference in intelligence.
esearch is applied and pays off in manyt is not just thein the white lab coat; often, it is that off-the-wall idea which needsground to grow and be nurtured.
In other cues, Je is our operational requirements which force us to push the developmentechnology which industry would not findwe need it sooner than they would develop it. In some instances, someone must cake
the risk, and we support that. Even failure teaches us which road not to take.
With the Cold War behind us, the requirements fot ground-breasting research, new approaches to prob-
Jems, and the willingness to take chances and risk failure all endure.
Dr. Wheelon's vision, intelligence, creativity, innovation, and tenacity are characteristics wc still need in our leaders and officers today.
Original document.
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