The duties and obligations placed on DoD intelligence organizations to protect the rights of individuals stem from the U.S. Constitution, Presidential Executive Order 12333, and DoD Manual 5240.01 which spells out how the Presidential Executive Order applies to Defense intelligence activities. DoD Directive 5148.13 outlines the DoD Intelligence Oversight program and serves as the basis for the DoD regulations and instructions that implement Intelligence Oversight in the Military Services, Combatant Commands, and DoD intelligence agencies.      

Intelligence Oversight is responsible for ensuring that Intelligence Oversight policies and regulations are carried out by DoD organizations that perform intelligence functions. To this end, we conduct inspections and investigations to ensure that all activities performed by intelligence units and personnel are conducted in accordance with federal law, Presidential Executive Orders, DoD directives, regulations, policies, standards of conduct, and propriety. The Inspector General organizations of the military services, Defense intelligence agencies, and combatant commands also inspect for compliance regarding intelligence oversight and report their findings to the Component Intelligence Oversight Official.