Know the Earth
Geospatial intelligence supports our troops.
By Col. Warren S. Lacy, USA-Ret.

Our story begins in 1803: President Thomas Jefferson sends the Army’s Lewis and Clark expedition to explore and map the recently acquired Louisiana Territory. In later years, the Navy begins charting the oceans, aerial photography and satellite imaging enter the mix, and new organizations (such as the Central Intelligence Agency) begin to gather and analyze intelligence.

The most recent chapter in the ongoing history of our nation’s mapping and intelligence programs introduces the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)—the subject of this month’s cover story.
“What in the world is geospatial intelligence?” you may ask. The official definition is “the exploitation and analysis of imagery and geospatial information to describe, assess, and visually depict physical features and geographically referenced activities on the earth.”

If that seems a bit heavy, then check out the “Kid’s Page” on the NGA Web site (www.nga.mil/ngakids): “Geospatial intelligence means taking all the information there is about a point on the earth—above, on, or under the surface—and putting it together to answer questions about that place.” That definition works for me!

With a vision statement of “Know the Earth ... Show the Way,” NGA supports American troops in the field as well as homeland security and disaster relief. Turn to page 52 for the rest of the story about innovation and leadership in America’s intelligence community.

Continuing the theme of evolving institutions, we also include a debate on Social Security reform (page 34). Average citizens as well as lawmakers are starting to discuss the need for major changes to the Social Security program. Their discussions reflect a rising level of concern across the country, especially among younger workers, that Social Security will not be able to provide them with the promised benefits when they retire.

One proposal is to allow workers to invest some of their Social Security contributions in private retirement plans. The theory is that market investment returns would be so much higher than what Social Security can pay that all workers would receive much higher benefits through personal accounts than through Social Security.

The counter to this argument is that any system of individual accounts is unlikely to offer the same protections as Social Security benefits. Reform opponents contend that under some reform plans, workers would bear more financial market risk. We urge you to read both sides of the debate and draw your own conclusions.

Finally, on this Independence Day, we pause to salute the men and women of our armed forces. Whether at war overseas or defending the homefront, they continue the battle to preserve our freedom—for the right of all people to live in a world free of terror.