The agency also operates major facilities in the St. Louis, Missouri area (referred to as NGA Campus West or NCW), as well as support and liaison offices worldwide.

[8] In addition to using GEOINT for U.S. military and intelligence efforts, NGA assists during natural and artificial disasters, aids in security planning for major events such as the Olympic Games,[9] disseminates maritime safety information,[10] and gathers data on climate change.

[5] U.S. mapping and charting efforts remained relatively unchanged until World War I, when aerial photography became a major contributor to battlefield intelligence.

In addition, ERP assumed the "supervision and maintenance" of the War Department Map Collection, effective April 1, 1939.

With the advent of the Second World War aviation, field surveys began giving way to photogrammetry, photo interpretation, and geodesy.

AMS was designated as an Engineer field activity, effective July 1, 1942, by General Order 22, OCE, June 19, 1942.

The Army Air Corps established its map unit, which was renamed ACP in 1943 and was located in St. Louis, Missouri.

Shortly before leaving office in January 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorized the creation of the National Photographic Interpretation Center (NPIC), a joint project of the CIA and DIA.

Its mostly civilian workforce was concentrated at production sites in Bethesda, Maryland, Northern Virginia, and St. Louis, Missouri.

DMA was formed from the Mapping, Charting, and Geodesy Division, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and from various mapping-related organizations of the military services.

DMAAC originated with the U.S. Air Force's Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC) and was located in St. Louis, Missouri.

[18] The creation of NIMA followed more than a year of study, debate, and planning by the defense, intelligence, and policy-making communities (as well as the Congress) and continuing consultations with customer organizations.

[19] With the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 on November 24, 2003,[20] NIMA was renamed NGA to reflect better its primary mission in the area of GEOINT.

This new facility, later known as NCE, houses several thousand people and is situated on the former Engineer Proving Ground site near Fort Belvoir.

While NGA's director and deputy director oversee the agency, the Chief of Staff oversees NGA's executive support staff, administrative services, logistics, personnel security, human resources, employee training and development, corporate communications, and congressional engagement.