Strategic Information and Operations Center (SIOC)
Fact Sheet

• The original SIOC was created in 1989 to monitor all major events held in conjunction with the inauguration of President George H.W. Bush. It replaced an ad hoc emergency operations center that was created for specific crisis situations.
• In November 1987 simultaneous prison uprisings in Oakdale, Louisiana and Atlanta, Georgia had made it clear that FBI Headquarters needed a permanent center that could handle several crises at a time. Accordingly, following a feasibility study by the Institute for Defense Analysis, SIOC was designed as a 24/7 command post, capable of carrying out a full range of crisis management functions by one medium and one small crisis action team simultaneously, both in constant contact with field commanders and other law enforcement agencies. It encompassed 4,000 square feet, sat 50, and had 85 built-in telephone lines.

The New SIOC

• In 1995, the FBI undertook an initiative to upgrade SIOC, reflecting its need to manage increased responsibilties and interagency coordination efforts that had subsequently arisen through presidential directives, federal orders, and laws. Then Director Freeh asked that the FBI have a first class operations center capable of meeting its growing mission in worldwide law enforcement and national security affairs.
• On November 20, 1998, the new SIOC was inaugurated by former President George H.W. Bush during the FBI's 90th Anniversary celebration. The center's full name is the "George Bush Strategic Information and Operations Center," reflecting the fact that the original SIOC was created for and opened on his inauguration as 41st President of the United States. The center officially opened for business when President Bush pushed the "Full Alert Button" and sent an e-mail to all FBI employees on November 20, 1998.
• SIOC can handle up to eight crisis and operations of varying sizes at any one time.
• Major investigations and operations handled by the new SIOC include: criminal investigations in Kosovo (1999); the Y2K Rollover and Borderbom (1999-2000); the 9/11 terror attacks (2001) and D.C. Sniper case (2002); Olympics in Salt Lake City (2002) and Beijing (2008); national political conventions (2000, 2004, 2008); Hurricane Katrina (2006) and Ike and Gustav (2008); and the Islamabad terrorist bombing (2008).

• Comprises approximately 40,000 square feet (30,000 for the center itself; 10,000 for the Information Systems Support, or ISS, area); seats 380 in the Center and 50 in ISS; and includes 20 rooms to support operations, including briefing theaters, watch floor, and control room.
• Includes 1,110 telephone lines (35 miles worth); 60 miles of fiber optic cable; 225 computer terminals, with access to three LANs, FBINET, the Internet, and various FBI datadases; and eight large video display screens.
• Functions as:
  -- A 24-hour watch post;
  -- A crisis management center supporting the exercise of operational oversight;
  -- An information processing center.

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