The use of science and technology originated with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) – CIA’s predecessor organization – during World War II. During the Cold War, it was critical to the clandestine and analytical officers abroad to have the latest scientific advances, specifically with technical collection.In the early 1950s and 1960s, the CIA’s forward-thinking officers assumed a dominant role in the development of state-of-the-art aerial, space-based, and ground technical collection systems and devices.

Overhead reconnaissance was one of CIA’s most important missions during this time. Because of these needs, CIA developed two extraordinary aircraft: the U-2 and the A-12. The U-2 was developed in 1954 to take photographs of Soviet Bloc military facilities, beyond the range of Soviet fighters and missiles. The U-2 could fly at altitudes of 65,000 to 70,000 feet at subsonic speed. Although the U-2 was built to fly deep inside the Soviet Union, it was soon vulnerable to Soviet air defenses. The CIA soon embarked on the A-12 program (code-named OXCART) to provide a successor to the U-2. When the A‑12 was declared fully operational, it sustained speed of Mach 3.2 at 90,000 feet altitude.Recognizing the important role of science and technology in this new aerospace age, the CIA created a single CIA entity responsible for all of the Agency’s technological needs.

In 1962, CIA formed the Directorate of Research – the predecessor to the DS&T. A year later, in August 1963, Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) John A. McCone established the Directorate of Science and Technology.Since its formation, the DS&T has evolved steadily into a diverse organization that provides wide ranging products and services in support of CIA’s mission. The overarching purpose of the DS&T is to bring technical expertise to collection and analysis on the most pressing intelligence issues.