"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

Authority and Oversight

The NVTC serves as an element of the United States Intelligence Community.

Congress in Section 907 of the USA Patriot Act of 2001, requested a report on the establishment of a National Virtual Translation Center (NVTC), and in response to Congress, in Section 313 of the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY 2003, the Director of Central Intelligence directed the creation of the NVTC and approved the Federal Bureau of Investigation as the Executive Agent.

While the FBI serves as the NVTC Executive Agent, the NVTC has authority to create operational and technical processes to accomplish its unique mission with approval from the Board of Directors and The Director of National Intelligence (DNI).

<- back