RIT-CIA Timeline by Laura Mandanas and Madeleine Villavicencio In 1991, scandal rocked RIT. In a series of reports
computer science.
CIA. The center is located in a secure building
through the “Democrat and Chronicle”, it was
The Memorandum is approved by Evan
at 125 Technology Park Drive on the eastern
revealed that RIT had a longstanding, concealed
Hineman, the CIA’s deputy director for science
edge of RIT’s Henrietta campus.
agreement with the CIA. As Institute ties to the
and technology. The Memorandum is then
covert agency came to light, a media storm ensued,
circulated to a small, select group of RIT’s
1989
eventually culminating in the resignation of RIT's
senior administrators as a “primary working
Rose writes a memo to the RIT Faculty
President, M. Richard Rose.
document.”
Council to inform them of an affiliation with
1985
the CIA. Rose glosses over many facts, not
The following is a timeline summarizing the events.
Rose asks Robert Kohler, an RIT graduate
fully outlining the extent of the relationship.
1979
and 25-year veteran of the CIA, for
1990
a recommendation for a director for
The CIA sponsors $855,000 of research at RIT
M. Richard Rose becomes the seventh
the Imaging Science Center. Kohler’s
Research Corp.; this is the first year that the
president of RIT.
recommendations were not chosen, but later
Research Corp. makes a profit. On top of his
1980
in the year, Kohler is appointed to the Center
regular salary, Dougherty is paid $44,000 at
of Imaging Science’s advisory board.
the Research Corp./Federal Programs Training
RIT creates the RIT Research Corporation,
1986
Center as executive assistant to the president
a private, for-profit subsidiary of RIT which provides a means for RIT faculty and students
RIT’s first CIA Officer-in-Residence, Jim Frye,
“Changemasters”, a strategic planning report
to be contracted for proprietary research. It is a
arrives on campus.
for the CIA which suggests that the CIA
separate legal entity, but is run entirely by RIT.
In May, Rose receives his personal security
Rose writes the foreword to
should be engaged in economic espionage
1984
clearance with the CIA. About 30 other RIT
against adversarial trading partners of the U.S.
faculty, administrators and staff also obtain
The CIA’s Information Act is signed to
CIA security clearances that year.
February 7, 1991
regulate public distribution of information
In July, Rose personally briefs Hineman
In the midst of Gulf-War fever, Rose
held by the CIA.
about the progress at RIT, saying, “The
announces that he is taking a four-month
1985
relationship is rapidly coming to full blood.
leave of absence for a confidential assignment.
We are pleased and delighted with the way
Most believe that it is Gulf War related.
RIT signs the Memorandum of Agreement
the relationship has developed to both of our
with the CIA. The 10 page Memorandum is
advantages.”
February 13, 1991
intended to provide a “long term framework” for
1988
Rose’s four month assignment at the CIA
relationships between the CIA and RIT, as well as its applied research subsidiary, the RIT Research
Kohler becomes a member of the Board of
Plough, RIT provost and vice president for
Corp. It spells out that:
Trustees. Rose appoints Keith Hazard, deputy
academic affairs, becomes acting president in
• The Center for Imaging Science, which
director in the CIA’s Office of Development
Rose’s absence.
teaches various technologies associated with
and Engineering, as Kohler’s replacement on
the production and reproduction of images, is
the Center of Imaging Science’s advisory board.
April 10, 1991
to be RIT’s “lead organization” in working with
Rose and Andrew Dougherty, executive
headquarters in Langley, V.A. begins. Thomas
In a telephone interview with the “Democrat
the CIA.
assistant to the president and the CIA’s main
& Chronicle” (D&C), Rose acknowledges that
• The CIA will provide funding to RIT to
contact person on campus, put together
he has actually been working to develop
“offset the salary and benefits of specific
several interconnected programs that fall
training and educational strategies for the CIA.
faculty members whose assignments provide
under the umbrella organization called the
measurable direct benefit to the CIA.” The
National Intelligence Technical Support
April 29, 1991
CIA will also provide “seed money” needed to
Program (NITSP). Its purpose is to identify,
A coalition of about 50 students, staff and
attract other government and industry support
screen, recruit, and train RIT students “with
alumni call for Rose’s resignation.
in developing a “valuable source of trained
appropriate attitudes” for employment with
individuals.”
the agency.
• RIT will establish courses at the Center for
The Federal Programs Training Center is
Imaging Science in integrated electro-optics,
established as a division of the Research Corp.
an introduction to digital image processing,
under NITSP. Its express purpose is to provide
and basic courses in artificial intelligence and
training and technological support for the
28 Section | xx.xx.xx
Tom Gosnell, RIT Board chair, pens a letter to the university community saying that the trustees have no intention of firing Rose or breaking ties with the CIA.