"Inasmuch as foreign language skills are crucial for maintaining U.S. security and leadership globally, it is our nation's core capability to translate data economically, promptly and without misinterpretation that is key. Many with multilingual skills can produce translations, but few are skillful translators. A quality translation is an art form, a tapestry etched from the fabric of a translator's learned skills, life experiences and intricate knowledge of human interaction. "

Jeff Robinson
Director National Virtual Translation Center

The National Virtual Translation Center (NVTC) was established in February, 2003 " for the purpose of providing timely and accurate translations of foreign intelligence for all elements of the Intelligence Community."

The NVTC goal is to augment existing government translation capabilities by:

• acting as a clearinghouse for facilitating interagency use of translators;
• partnering with elements of the U.S. Government, academia, and private industry to identify translator resources and engage their services;
• building a nationwide team of highly qualified, motivated linguists and translators, connected virtually to our program Office in Washington, D.C.;
• applying state-of-the-art technology to maximize translator efficiency.

Authority and Oversight