Project Genoa

[3] Genoa was conceived in late 1995 by retired Rear Admiral John Poindexter, a chief player in the Iran-Contra Affair.

[2] He proposed a computer system that would help humans crunch large amounts of data in order to more effectively predict potential national security threats.

[2] In order to pitch their ideas, the researchers set up a mock crisis command center in DARPA's main building, full of monitors staffed by actors.

Prominent viewers of the exhibition included Richard A. Clarke, John Michael McConnell, and James R. Clapper.

Genoa was commissioned in 1996 for development overseen by DARPA and completed in the 2002 fiscal year, becoming a component of the Total Information Awareness program.