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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ISOO News

  • new On September 30, 2008, ISOO notified Senior Agency Officials that it would begin to issue ISOO Notices covering aspects of the classification, safeguarding, and declassification programs under Executive Order 12958, as amended and 32 C.F.R. 2001. These ISOO Notices will be posted on this website as they are issued.
  • new Reminder: SF-311 data due November 15, 2008. All SF-311 data must be received by the Information Security Oversight Office by November 15, 2008. The form will reflect all classification activity for FY 2008.
  • The ISOO 2007 Annual Report to the President Adobe Acrobat PDF is now available online. The Report profiles data about the government-wide security classification program during Fiscal Year 2007.
    - June 19, 2008-ISOO Press Release
  • On 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.
  • 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

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