Special Activities Center

Special Activities Center
Directorate of Operations Seal
Active	2016–present (as Special Activities Center) Unknown/1957–2016 (as Special Activities Division)
Country	United States
Type	Paramilitary clandestine force
Role	Black operations Close quarters combat Counter-terrorism Covert operations Direct action Espionage High-value target Hostage rescue Raiding Targeted killing Special operations Unconventional warfare
Size	Classified
Part of	CIA Directorate of Operations
Garrison/HQ	George Bush Center for Intelligence Langley, Virginia, U.S.
Motto(s)	Tertia Optio (English: "Third Option")
Known operations	Cold War Permesta Bay of Pigs Invasion Vietnam War Operation Condor Operation Cyclone Operation Restore Hope Operation Eagle Claw Global War on Terrorism War in Afghanistan Iraq War 2008 Abu Kamal raid Operation Inherent Resolve Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa Drone strikes in Pakistan Operation Neptune Spear
Commanders
Deputy Director of CIA for Operations	David Marlowe
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency	William J. Burns
President of the United States	Joe Biden

The Special Activities Center (SAC) is a division of the United States Central Intelligence Agency responsible for covert and paramilitary operations. The unit was named Special Activities Division (SAD) prior to 2015.^[1] Within SAC there are two separate groups: SAC/SOG (Special Operations Group) for tactical paramilitary operations and SAC/PAG (Political Action Group) for covert political action.^[2]

The Special Operations Group is responsible for operations that include clandestine or covert operations with which the US government does not want to be overtly associated.^[3] As such, unit members, called Paramilitary Operations Officers and Specialized Skills Officers, do not typically wear uniforms.^[4]

If they are compromised during a mission, the US government may deny all knowledge.^[5] The group generally recruits personnel from special mission units within the U.S. Special Operations community.^[6]

SOG Paramilitary Operations Officers account for a majority of Distinguished Intelligence Cross and Intelligence Star recipients during conflicts or incidents that elicited CIA involvement. These are the highest two awards for valor within the CIA in recognition of distinguished valor and excellence in the line of duty. SOG operatives also account for the majority of the stars displayed on the Memorial Wall at CIA headquarters, indicating that the officer died while on active duty.^[7] The Latin motto of SAC is Tertia Optio, which means "Third Option," as covert action represents an additional option within the realm of national security when diplomacy and military action are not feasible.^[8]

The Ground Branch of the Special Operations Group has been known to operate alongside the United Kingdom's E Squadron,^[9] the UK's equivalent paramilitary unit.

The Political Action Group is responsible for covert activities related to political influence, psychological operations, economic warfare, and cyberwarfare.

Tactical units within SAC can also carry out covert political action while deployed in hostile and austere environments. A large covert operation typically has components that involve many or all of these categories as well as paramilitary operations.

Political and "influence" covert operations are used to support US foreign policy. As overt support for one element of an insurgency can be counterproductive due to the unfavorable impression of the United States in some countries, in such cases covert assistance allows the US to assist without damaging the reputation of its beneficiaries.^[10]