Statement by CIA Director Porter J. Goss on the Appointment of Dr. Donald Kerr to Head NRO

July 21, 2005

Today, the Secretary of Defense announced that Dr. Donald M. Kerr, the CIA Deputy Director for Science and Technology (DDS&T), will be the next head of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The NRO is a partnership that draws on technical and leadership talent from the Department of Defense, private industry, and CIA. Our Agency has a long and proud history of contributions to the use of space to promote the security of our country. Don's appointment continues that tradition.

Since becoming DDS&T in August of 2001, Don and the team he leads have brought great creativity and innovation to America's fight against terror. He has done much to see that our officers in the field and at headquarters have the tools and technologies their missions demand. I look forward to working closely with him in his new assignment.