THE ROOTS OF TODAY’S ICD 705 STANDARDS CAN BE TRACED BACK TO THE EARLY YEARS OF THE COLD WAR. IN 1952, PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER SIGNED EXECUTIVE ORDER 10421, WHICH FORMALLY INTRODUCED THE CONCEPT OF “PHYSICAL SECURITY” AS A NATIONAL DEFENSE REQUIREMENT. THIS ORDER DEFINED PHYSICAL SECURITY AS PROTECTION AGAINST SABOTAGE, ESPIONAGE, AND OTHER HOSTILE ACTS. FROM THAT POINT ON, U.S. POLICY BEGAN TO EVOLVE AROUND THE IDEA THAT INFORMATION AND FACILITIES REQUIRED STRUCTURED SAFEGUARDS.
FAST FORWARD TO 1995, THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING BROUGHT A RENEWED FOCUS ON GOVERNMENT FACILITY PROTECTION. EXECUTIVE ORDER 12977 ESTABLISHED THE INTERAGENCY SECURITY COMMITTEE (ISC), WHOSE MISSION WAS TO DEVELOP UNIFORM POLICIES AND STANDARDS FOR FEDERAL FACILITY SECURITY. THIS SHIFT EMPHASIZED THAT SECURITY WAS NO LONGER JUST AN “AGENCY RESPONSIBILITY,” BUT A NATIONAL PRIORITY THAT REQUIRED COLLABORATION AND CONSISTENCY.
THE BIGGEST CHANGE CAME IN THE MID-2000S. THE CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE (ODNI) IN 2004 CONSOLIDATED SECURITY STANDARDS UNDER ONE LEAD AUTHORITY. FORMER DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTIVES (DCIDS) WERE REVIEWED AND RE-DESIGNATED AS INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY DIRECTIVES (ICDS). ICD 705 EMERGED AS THE CORNERSTONE DOCUMENT FOR THE PLANNING, DESIGN, AND ACCREDITATION OF SCIF AND SAPF FACILITIES. THIS DIRECTIVE, SUPPORTED BY THE ICS 705 SERIES AND THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS, ESTABLISHED UNIFORM STANDARDS THAT REMAIN THE FOUNDATION OF SECURE FACILITY CONSTRUCTION TODAY.
TODAY, ICD 705 REPRESENTS THE HISTORY OF LESSONS LEARNED FROM ESPIONAGE, TERRORISM, AND NATIONAL SECURITY INCIDENTS. UNDERSTANDING ITS ORIGIN PROVIDES CONTEXT FOR WHY REQUIREMENTS EXIST AND REINFORCES THAT SECURITY IS ABOUT MORE THAN COMPLIANCE. IT IS ABOUT PROTECTING NATIONAL DEFENSE CAPABILITIES AND THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THEM.