Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group (ITACG)
The ITACG was established at the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) to help the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other agencies produce federally coordinated, terrorism-related information products tailored to the needs of state, local, and tribal governments and private sector partners. ITACG-coordinated products are then disseminated through existing federal agency channels.
The ITACG consists of:
- The ITACG Detail, which is a team of analysts led by a senior intelligence officer (appointed by DHS) and composed of fire, investigative, tribal, law enforcement, and health first responders assigned to NCTC.
- The ITACG Advisory Council, which is composed of federal, state, local, tribal, and private sector officials responsible for setting policy and developing processes for the integration, analysis, and dissemination of federally coordinated information within the scope of the ISE.
The Program Manager for the ISE is required to monitor and assess the efficacy of the ITACG and to issue an annual report on its progress to the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Congress.
The ITACG's Role in Info Sharing
The ITACG continues to play an important role in institutionalizing the process of information sharing between the federal government and state, local, and tribal partners by assisting federal partners in interpreting and analyzing intelligence intended for dissemination to frontline law enforcement, public safety, and homeland security personnel. Analysis of the 2011 NCTC-led Counterterrorism Customer Satisfaction Survey of Intelligence Community Products and Services data revealed that 91% of customers rate their satisfaction with the usefulness, timeliness, and responsiveness of ITACG Roll Call Release products as “Very Useful” to “Somewhat Useful.”
Since June 2011, the ITACG Detail has reviewed 191 intelligence products, representing a 50% increase over the previous year. During this same period, the ITACG Detail nominated 1,380 articles for inclusion in NCTC’s daily Terrorism Summary, over half of which were accepted. The Detail originated 12 Roll Call Releases (fewer than half from the previous year), and submitted 30 requests for product classification downgrade. Seven of these requests were approved; six were denied due to source sensitivity; and seventeen are pending. Continue reading about the ITACG on page twelve of the 2012 ISE Annual Report to the Congress.
A Guide for First Responders
The second edition of the ITACG Intelligence Guide for First Responders provides an overview of the Intelligence Community, information regarding resources available to state, local, and tribal partners, and guidance on understanding federal intelligence reporting, terminology, and acronyms. This version updates the first edition, which was published in October 2009, and includes two new sections: "Reporting Suspicious Activity," which covers participation in the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative, and "Joint Partnerships," which highlights a few of the joint federal and state, local, and tribal activities around the country. The second edition is currently available through state and major urban area fusion centers and Joint Terrorism Task Forces. Learn more by visiting ITACG's homepage.
