Question

This authority heads a Cognizant Security Agency (CSA) and is responsible for determining the eligibility for access to classified information of contractors and their respective contract.

A. Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
B. Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
C. Director of the Information Security Oversight Office
D. Director of National Intelligence
E. Secretary of Defense
F. Secretary of Energy
G. National Security Council

Answer 1

The authority responsible for determining the eligibility for access to classified information of contractors for a Cognizant Security Agency is the Secretary of Defense, which was established under the National Security Act of 1947.

Step-by-step explanation:

The authority heading a Cognizant Security Agency (CSA) and responsible for determining eligibility for access to classified information of contractors and their respective contract is the Secretary of Defense. The Department of Defense (DoD) is part of the Executive Branch that includes the National Security Council, and is critical in defense and military policy, as well as in intelligence and security measures.

It was established under the National Security Act of 1947, which also created the National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to conduct surveillance and espionage in foreign nations. Additionally, the CIA became an integral part of the Cold War, expanding its role to covert operations. The CIA, being an independent executive agency, reports directly to the President and its director plays a key role in intelligence, although the Director of National Intelligence now oversees the collective intelligence community following the reorganizations after 9/11.