The US National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) has appointed Letitia Long as its new director, the first woman to head up a US major intelligence agency.

The Agency collects and analyses satellite and airborne imagery and provides map-based intelligence for military, national security and humanitarian efforts. 

Speaking at Long’s appointment ceremony, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said the organisation has had a profound impact.

“Apart from a critical role in our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, in recent months NGA has also been working with other departments to provide a common operating picture in Haiti following the earthquake there, track the oil spill in the Gulf and monitored the ash clouds from the volcano in Iceland, just to name three,” he said.

The Director of NGA serves as both the Director of National Intelligence’s principal advisor and the Intelligence Community's functional manager for geospatial intelligence.

Long said she was looking forward to the new challenge.

“I am excited by the opportunity to continue to serve our nation not only alongside NGA’s outstanding and dedicated professionals but also with our partners and colleagues that span the US intelligence community, the international community, academia and industry,” she said.

Long has served as the deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence, deputy director of naval intelligence, and as a coordinator of intelligence community activities for the director of central intelligence.