Memo for the Record, 30 October 1968a, Subj: Telephone conversation [on 29 October]
with Col. Pullen, Hq SAC. SSO-SAC is the
acronym for the Special Security Office at Strategic Air Command headquarters.
Originally, the SSO was under the authority of the United
States Air Force Security Service (a subsidiary to the National Security
Agency), responsible for devising encrypted communications capabilities
and providing security support to military commands and other organizations
receiving intelligence and communications. In 1965, the SSO functions
transferred to the major user commands (MAJCOM). Within the commands, the
primary function of the SSO officer is the management of Special Access
Programs (SAP), and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), in which even
the extra protection measures applied to Top Secret information are not
sufficient. The term refers
to a method of handling certain types of classified information that relate to
specific national security topics or programs whose existence is not publicly
acknowledged, or of a sensitive nature requiring special handling. These
“need-to-know” classifications necessitate a special “SCI access,” or SAP
approval, before anyone can gain access to this information. For additional information see: http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Compartmented_control_system.