Department of Defense
DIRECTIVE
NUMBER 5205.16
September 30, 2014
Incorporating Change 1, Effective January 25, 2017
USD(I)
SUBJECT: The DoD Insider Threat Program
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. In accordance with sections 113 and 131 through 137, and 2672 of Title 10,
United States Code (U.S.C.) (Reference (a)); Presidential Memorandum (Reference (b));
Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12333, 13526, and 13587 (References (c), (d), and (e)); section 922 of
Public Law 112-81 (Reference (f)); National Security Directive 42 (Reference (g)), and
Committee on National Security Systems Directive 504 (Reference (h)), this directive:
a. Establishes policy and assigns responsibilities within DoD to develop and maintain an
insider threat program to comply with the requirements and minimum standards to prevent,
deter, detect, and mitigate the threat insiders may pose to DoD and U.S. Government
installations, facilities, personnel, missions, or resources. This threat can include damage to the
United States through espionage, terrorism, unauthorized disclosure of national security
information, or through the loss or degradation of departmental resources or capabilities.
b. Identifies appropriate training, education, and awareness initiatives that may be made
available to DoD personnel and contractors in accordance with Reference (b).
c. Ensures appropriate DoD policies, including but not limited to counterintelligence (CI),
cybersecurity, security, civilian and military personnel management, workplace violence,
emergency management, law enforcement (LE), and antiterrorism (AT) risk management, are
evaluated and modified to effectively address insider threats to DoD.
d. Cancels Secretary of Defense Memorandum (Reference (i)).
e. Incorporates and cancels Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum (Reference (j)).
2. APPLICABILITY. This directive:
a. Applies to:
