Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO)

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For the Public

  • Providing for an informed American public. Learn more

For Government

  • Safeguarding the American government and its people.
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  • Contacts at Federal Agencies for the Principal Mandatory Declassification (MDR)
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  • Need to contact the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP)?
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For Industry

  • A partnership between the federal government and private industry to safeguard classified information.
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  • Need the Declaration of Principles Contact List?
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The Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO)

The Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) is responsible to the President for policy and oversight of the Government-wide security classification system and the National Industrial Security Program. We receive our authority from

We are a component of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and receive our policy and program guidance from the National Security Council (NSC).

ISOO has two staffs and a total of 22 personnel to accomplish its mission.

The Classification Management Staff:
Develops security classification policies for classifying, declassifying and safeguarding national security information generated in Government and industry. The current policy documents for the Government and industry programs are Executive Orders 12958, as amended, and 12829, as amended, respectively.

The Operations Staff:
Evaluates the effectiveness of the security classification programs established by Government and industry to protect information vital to our national security interests.

Presidential Document

The Federal Register
  • View an up-to-date listing of agency heads and officials who have been designated by the President in the Federal Register as having the authority to classify information.
    Federal Register Vol. 60, No. 200 Tuesday, October 17, 1995 Pages 53845-53846
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"Declaration of Principles"
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ISOO News

  • newOn April 16, 2008 the Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein announced the appointment of William Jamieson Bosanko ("Jay") as the new director of the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO). The President of the United States approved Mr. Bosanko's appointment, which became effective on Monday, April 14, 2008.
  • February 5, 2008 - Presidential Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Concerning Security Clearance Process Reform
  • November 14, 2007, the Deputy Director for Management for the Office of Management and Budget released additional guidance to the July 17, 2006 and the December 12, 2005 memos entitled, Reciprocal Recognition of Existing Personnel Security Clearances.
  • On February 16, 2007, the Information Security Oversight Office released Guidance on the Derivative Use of the X1 Through X8 Markings.Adobe Acrobat PDF
  • NARA amends 32 CFR chapter 20 by removing part 2002Adobe Acrobat PDF

  • On December 18, 2006, the Records Access and Information Security Policy Coordinating Committee approved the
    Adjudicator's Program of Instruction (POI) to promote security clearance reciprocity.

Learn about the Policy Documents

ISOO oversees the security classification programs in both Government and industry and reports annually to the President on their status.

View the Policy Documents

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001
Telephone: 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272