Overview[]
The Central Imagery Office (CIO) was established by the Department of Defense on May 6, 1992, pursuant to DOD Directive 5105.56. Its mission was to ensure that U.S. Government intelligence, mapping, charting and geodesy, and other needs for imagery were met effectively and efficiently in a manner conducive to national security, consistent with the authorities and duties of the Secretary of Defense and the Director of Central Intelligence.
The CIO merged with other DoD and IC components to form the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) when it was established by Congress on October 1, 1996.