The Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Operations (DOO) is a crucial division within the CIA responsible for covert operations, physical intelligence gathering, and espionage activities abroad. This directorate is the core of the CIA's secret operations and is tasked with collecting foreign intelligence via human sources (HUMINT), conducting covert action as directed by HQ, and engaging in counterintelligence activities.
Operatives inside the Directorate of Operations, are trained to handle human sources, or agents, who can provide vital information on foreign governments, organizations, and activities posing a threat to the United States. These operatives often operate under non-official cover, meaning they work in positions that do not have any apparent connection to the U.S. government, which makes their activities and true purpose more clandestine.
The Directorate of Operations conducts its missions with a high degree of secrecy and discretion. It is known for its rigorous training programs, which include mental training, espionage tactics, and paramilitary skills. The Farm, located in Virginia, is the primary training facility for these operatives.
The Directorate of Operations works closely with other parts of the CIA, including the Directorate of Intelligence, which analyzes the intelligence collected, and the Directorate of Support, which provides training support and innovative tools for operations. It also coordinates with other U.S. intelligence agencies and foreign intelligence services for joint operations and information sharing.
Overall, the CIA's Directorate of Operations plays a vital role in shaping and implementing U.S. foreign intelligence activities, with a focus on national security and global stability.
The Directorate of Support is tasked with training the next generation of the Agency, managing and monitoring Probationary Agents, and providing mentoring to active duty personnel and university attendees. It has two subdivisions, the External Relations team and the Office of Admissions.
The Directorate of Intelligence focuses on background checks, reports, group infiltrations, security of all USSS divisions, and information gathering. It has two subdivisions, the Strategic Analytics Branch and the Counterintelligence & Security Center.