MEMO FOR RECORD. SUBJECT: STAR GATE TRANSFER CHRONOLOGY: 1995

CIA-STARGATE

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In 1995, the CIA's Stargate Program went through a transfer process. It began with preliminary planning meetings by senior CIA management in response to a Congressionally Directed Action (CDA). The program manager at the CIA/ORD was appointed. Coordination meetings were held with the Office of Military Affairs, DIA, and US Army. Archiving of all DIA and CIA files relating to paranormal studies began. Discussions were held with the Center for Studies on Intelligence (CSI) on potential strategies for declassification. A technical exchange was held with the DIA Star Gate program manager and personnel. A memo was sent from ORD to DIA requesting their assistance with declassification. Site visits were made to Ft. Meade to meet program personnel and discuss the transfer. Panel member selection began for the National Research Council (NRC) study. An independent contractor was hired to assemble detailed bibliographies of program documents. Briefings were held with various individuals and organizations to discuss the transfer. The NRC formally rejected the CIA study proposal. The DIA agreed to CIA declassifying the fact of the program. The telephony system was used to provide updates on the NRC study cancellation and negotiations with AIR. The decision was made to reassign Star Gate personnel since the study would not be concluded by 1 July. Meetings were held to discuss declassification strategies and issues. The SSCI was briefed on the status of the program. A contract was signed with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) for a blue ribbon panel. The decision was made to give DIA documents to AIR and disclose the DIA's program. The first group of unclassified documents was transferred to AIR. Declassification efforts were made with the Studies in Intelligence Article. Critical SRI contract documents were declassified. Meetings were held to discuss key issues with ADDS&T.

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Body:  Approved For Release 2006/12/12 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R000200190017-9
 MEMO FOR:
 FROM:
 SUBJECT:
 D
 Star Gate Transfer Chronology:  1995
 Jan:      Preliminary planning meetings by CIA senior
 management in response to Congressionally Directed
 Action (CDA) to transfer Star Gate Program.
 D/ORD Appointed program manager at CIA/ORD.
 1/ontacted Office of Military Affairs to coordinate
 meetings with DIA and US Army (in anticipation of
 Star Gate review).
 6 Feb:    LARD hosts the DIA Star Gate program manager and
 personnel for detailed brief to CIA on Star Gate.
 Feb-Mar:  Informal discussions with US Army Research
 Institute  (ARI)  and National Research Council  (NRC)
 about potential CIA paranormal study request
 Feb-Apr:      chiving begins of all DIA and CIA files relating
 to paranormal studies going back 20 years
 Feb:      Met with Center for Studies on Intelligence  (CSI)
 to discuss potential strategies for
 declassification
 28 Feb:   CIA met with DIA principal investigator at SAIC,
 Dr.  Ed May.  All-day technical exchange.
 Mar:      tz ormal memo sent from ORD to DIA requesting their
 assistance with declassification to facilitate
 execution of the CDA
 1 Mar:    CIA and Representative from office of Military
 Affairs make site visit to Ft. Meade to meet all
 program personnel and discuss transfer.  All-day
 technical exchange.
 15 Mar:   After informal discussions with NRC, panel member
 selection begins: Jessica Utts, John Palmer, James
 Alcock,  and Ray Hyman contacted by NRC and agree to
 act as commissioned reviewers
 l/CIA hires Independent Contractor to assemble
 detailed bibliographies of all Star Gate program
 documents potentially subject of review. IC begins
 to work at Ft. Meade with Star Gate personnel
 immediately
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 21 Mar:   `'CIA accompanies DIA at DIA's request to brief Star
 Gate program to assistant to Undersecretary of
 Policy (Benson Adams), NRC study discussed.
 27 Mar:      Submitted a "Terms of Reference" in formal response
 to the Congressionally Directed Action stating NRC
 would perform unclassified retrospective, CIA would
 proceed with declassification, interim report on
 management strategy would be provided in July
 Briefed Richard D'Amato at Hart Senate Office bldg.
 on status of transfer; obtained agreement on
 previously submitted Terms of Reference
 NOTE:     (/6IA and CIA coordinated the official response to
 Congress  (27 Mar)  including notice to DIA about
 schedule of NRC study conclusion.
 28  Mar:     Formal meeting with NRC representatives and final
 drafting of Statement of Work for submission to
 Internal NRC Governing Board 16 May.
 31 Mar       Discussion with Freedom of Information Act  (FOIA)
 Privacy Act Coordinator concerning request on CIA
 paranormal studies.   Response complicated by
 declassification efforts
 Mar-Apr:     MOU executed between US Army and CIA,  funds
 officially transferred to Pentagon
 Apr:         valuation of customer feedback on Star Gate
 tasking begins at Ft. Meade
 informed about possible study schedule
 inro 19=7- He asked when we would provide
 information on future of DIA people,  I agreed to
 call him 16 May because that's when NRC schedule
 would be finalized.
 14 Apr:      Official memo to CIA OGC asking them consider
 declassification issues and other questions
 concerning how to proceed on Star Gate transfer
 1  May:      NRC  formally  rejects  CIA  study  proposal
 citing  prior  definitive  study.   NRC  stated
 unequivocally  that  "the  case  for remote
 viewing... is  virtually   nonexistent."
 2 May:       Formal meeting with president and representatives
 of American Institutes of Research (AIR) to
 consider potential CIA study request after NRC
 rejection
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 10 May:     'DIA responds to request for assistance in
 declassification citing new EO 12958 as
 controlling, declines any further DIA action.
 Agrees to CIA declassifying DIA fact of program.
 16 May:       telephoned                 o inform him NRC study
 canceled and let him know about negotiations with
 AIR and the new projected study end date of about
 October.   Complained about 10 May memo.
 mid-May                                       informs us they will
 reassign Star Gate personnel since study will not
 be concluded by 1 July.  We concur in this
 decision.
 19 May:     Meeting with CIA's OGC to discuss EO 12958,
 other declassification strategies and issues.
 22 May:     SSCI briefed on Star Gate status. Seven staffers
 attended.
 1 June:     American Institutes for Research blue ribbon panel
 contract signed.
 VD/IA notified that CIA will give DIA documents to
 AIR and disclose DIA's program.  DIA concurs.
 SRI notified of CIA's intention to disclose
 formerly SECRET association.   SRI later concurs.
 Ad hoc Declassification Committee formed to review
 Studies in Intelligence Article summarizing history
 of CIA program.
 12 June:    Office of Public Affairs notified of upcoming AIR
 meeting and planned disclosures.
 14 June:    First group of unclassified documents transferred
 to AIR.  AIR asks for identification of 10 best
 reports.
 Memo submitted to CSI recommending declassification
 by ad hoc committee of Studies article.
 21 June:    Director ORD declassifies 3 ORD classified SRI
 contract documents identified as critical
 to AIR panel after internal review.
 22 June:    Meeting with ADDS&T to discuss key Star Gate issues
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