The US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has opened a 24/7 operations centre to provide geospatial intelligence to US policymakers and military forces around the world.

Although the NGA has had a round-the-clock ‘watch floor’ since the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, an NGA predecessor organisation, was formed in 1996, the new National GEOINT Operations Center (NGOC) will deliver distinct visual products and geospatial information to military and civil decision makers in an expanded and continuous manner.

According to NGA Director, Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth, the NGOC is parallel to the National Security Operations Center operated by the National Security Agency, with multiple watch teams keeping watch and providing time-critical information.

The NGOC’s motto is ‘We own the night!’.